Category: Life Lessons

Lessons we (hopefully) learn through our day to day lives…

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Vision brings New Purpose

In February of 2019, I wrote a blog post about the incredible restoration and repurpose occurring at the old mill located on the banks of the Finley River in Ozark, Missouri. (Click here to reread it, if you’re interested.) It has been exciting to see the huge building, nearly 100 years old, meticulously restored and revamped. It had sat quietly for nearly 30 years since closing its doors (then seemingly permanently) – but it has now come gloriously back to life once again…

Finley River Park

For years, whenever I have had a little extra time while driving north toward Springfield, Missouri, I have indulged myself with a few minutes to exit off highway 65 and head east down Jackson Street so that I could drive through Finley River Park. Any friends or family members who have ridden with me very often know my routine well – it’s a habit I’ve had for many years, and I’ve taken them along with me so many times. It’s such a beautiful spot – almost always alive with people walking the loop, fishing, kayaking or canoeing, reading, or just sitting and lazily enjoying the tranquil, beautiful little oasis in the middle of Ozark.

Finley River Bridge
Finley River Bridge, Ozark, MO

The old Finley River bridge provides a beautiful backdrop and just beyond it sits the historic Ozark Mill. For years, the old mill sat quiet and abandoned after years of service to the town of Ozark and its surrounding area. The original mill was built on this spot almost 200 years ago – even before Ozark was officially a town. Fires through the decades destroyed most of those original structures. Nevertheless, the Ozark Mill was always repaired and rebuilt, operating continuously on this same spot from the 1830’s until the early 1990’s. What a significant and enduring impact this must have been to the community!

Ozark Mill on the Finley River

At the time it closed its doors, it was reported to be the last working water-powered mill operating in Missouri. Shutting down the old mill was definitely the end of an era…and I feel confident many were sad to see it go. So many times, I have said that it would be a shame for the old building to be lost forever – but sensibly it seemed inevitable. The Finley River frequently flooded the old building….and besides – what could it economically be repurposed to provide?

Of course, as with all things, it takes people with vision – people willing to look beyond the norms and think outside the box…and often (as in this case), we all benefit from the efforts of these wonderful innovative thinkers…

The Ozark Mill; August 3, 2021
The Ozark Mill Restaurant
Views from The Ozark Mill Restaurant

…The restored Ozark Mill, a part of Bass Pro owner Johnny Morris’ wonderful new Finley Farms development, officially opened last night to the public as a wonderful restaurant and shopping experience. Once worn and silent, the old building was full of life yesterday evening and there was a feeling of celebration in the air. The weather was perfect for outdoor seating, with a pleasant breeze blowing over the Finley. Soft music, combined with the gentle noises of rushing water from the waterfalls, the beautiful setting, and all of the lovely, well-planned details made for an ambiance of rustic elegance. Our server Audry, and in fact the entire staff, was professional, friendly, eager to assist, and seemed excited to open the new restaurant in the grand old building. The menu selection was creative, the table setting was unique (our table napkins were patterned after old fashioned dish towels – how fun!), and the food was delicious. I ordered the “Ricotta Ravioli”, which was wonderful, and was fortunate to also taste the “Hog & Feed Flatbread” as well as the “Chicken and Dumplins”. All were very unique, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious. The menu offers three desserts – but at my table we were intrigued by the “Signature Green Tomato Cake”. “Trust us it’s amazing” was bravely captioned on the menu…..and they were right! Bright green in color, it was moist and delicious – tasting somewhat like an old-fashioned spice cake.

Ricotta Ravioli from The Ozark Mill restaurant

Signature Green Tomato Cake from The Ozark Mill restaurant

Ducks, cranes, and other waterfowl unassumingly entertained us while we ate and comfortably enjoyed our time by the water. The entire evening was wonderful from start to finish. In fact, I’m already looking forward to going back! I heard others talking about how fabulous the “Cast Iron Cornbread” appetizer was….and the “Risotto Fritters” sound intriguing! 🙂

Truth be told, I’m not always a huge fan of change. (Note – this comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone who knows me! 🙂 In fact, I can almost hear them chuckling as they read this. ) So often change feels frightening, unsettling….even painful. However, sometimes….change can bring really great things. It may sound silly, but dinner at the old mill last night reminded me that in some cases endings bring new beginnings, that closing one door may open the doors to new experiences – at times even surpassing those of the past.

I’m going to try to remember that.

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Focus

Recently in my Bible studies, I was reading in II Kings 18-19. I don’t usually write about my devotions….it’s a little out of my comfort zone – but wow, King Hezekiah really faced some HUGE challenges! (Check it out, if you have time and are interested. Here’s a link.) The king of Assyria was threatening to take over Jerusalem – and he had the means to accomplish just that. It would bring an end to the way of life that King Hezekiah and his people knew. It appeared that Assyria could easily conquer Hezekiah and his forces no matter what they did. But – King Hezekiah focused his eyes on the Lord and put his priority and his trust in Him. God through his prophet Isaiah assured him that Assyria would be defeated – and against all odds, it was. God’s people could look forward to better days….and I think we can too.

What we focus on – what we devote our attention to throughout our days – matters so much! It affects everything we do. In many cases, I think our focus (what we give our attention to) determines our choices, our direction, and even our outcomes.

When reading the story in Matthew 14 of Jesus walking on the water (Here’s a link.), I have to wonder what caused Peter to want to get out of the boat and onto those stormy, crashing waves. His situation, it seems, was very dire. It had to be terrifying to be in that boat on the dark, stormy lake in the middle of the night – but to me it sounds much more frightening to hop out of that boat into the middle of the raging storm – the storm that was threatening his life and the lives of those around him. I think I would have wanted to stay put – but not Peter.

Was he motivated by the amazement of seeing Jesus walking on the water? Was it simply solid, strong faith? Was it perhaps an overwhelming awareness of the presence of God in the flesh before him? I believe, whatever the motivation, it still took great courage to step out onto the raging water – and he did it. He actually walked on the water….and as long as Peter kept his eyes, his primary attention, focused on the Lord, his steps were sure. Only when he looked down, when he shifted his focus to the waves – the storms, the stresses, and the troubles around him – did he begin to flounder and fail. Even then, Jesus was there to lift Peter out of the waves and take him back to safety.

In that same way, it seems that we need to keep our eyes, our thoughts, and our attentions focused on Jesus. This doesn’t mean we completely ignore all of the daily trials around us, but that we work to put things into a prioritized perspective. When Jesus is our primary focus, we experience peace.

My cousin recently asked me for my favorite Bible verse – and even though there are so many wonderful, powerful verses in the Bible (John 3:16, for example), I easily answered her with my favorite for many years, Philippians 4:8. It has a great message about choosing what you give your attention to – and it has meant a lot to me throughout my life. You see, I’m actually a natural born worrier. I can very easily see the negative side of things, the bad things that could happen in most situations, and the ways I could fail instead of succeed. I can be very hard on myself – and at the end of the day I can often think of the ways I could have done things better instead of focusing on the positives. I often get sad or depressed when I see people who are hurting or when I myself get hurt – and if I let myself these thoughts can dominate my attention. That’s why this verse has long been a game changer for me – and one I remind myself of almost daily. It’s definitely not always easy to redirect the focus of my thoughts; it takes effort – but it always works, and I am always encouraged. I hope it is an encouragement to you as well.

Philippians 4:4-8

(New Living Translation)

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.[c]

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

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Happy Birthday, Mel Tillis

“Good morning, this is Judy Tillis from Branson. Would you happen to know where I could get in touch with Lisa Carlon?”

Mother replied, “Why yes I do – she’s my daughter, and she’s actually here right now.”

At the time of that phone call, I was a student at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri – just outside of Branson. I took the phone from Mother and listened as Judy asked me if I would be willing to move out of my college dorm and live with she and her husband to help them take care of their precious little girl, Hannah. Four days later, I moved into their home. Hannah was four at the time – a sweet, beautiful, intelligent child who was and still is absolutely a delight. It was one of the best jobs I have ever had.

Today, I am thinking of so many wonderful memories from those years – because today is the 88th anniversary of Hannah’s daddy, Mel Tillis’, birth. I smiled this morning as I sat remembering…and I decided to share some of the stories with all of you in hopes that they would make you smile as well. However, before we begin, I have to put in a little disclaimer. Mel had a gift for making people smile. He was an incredible entertainer – singer, songwriter, musician, and storyteller. He was a true, gifted artist – telling his stories with wonderful voice inflections, great facial expressions, and hilarious body language – and always managing his stutter to get others to laugh. An avid reader and a writer, he used the English language brilliantly – twisting pronunciations to add comic effect. When I write these stories, I am blessed that I can HEAR his words and SEE his facial expressions as I type….but those things are unfortunately so difficult to express in written words. For those of you who knew and loved Mel Tillis – I hope you can “hear” him in your mind as well while you read ahead…. For those of you who didn’t know Mel, he was known as the “Stutterin’ Boy” because he couldn’t speak without a stutter. His was not a stutter of repeated letters, but of pauses. At times, I know it was so frustrating for him – but he managed it beautifully and worked it into a trademark his audiences came to love. When I’ve included “……..” in the stories below, please know I’m indicating a Mel Tillis pause. I hope you can hear him.

……………………………………

During the 1990’s, someone in town decided to sell maps to the Branson music stars’ homes. As a result, the house we lived in at the end of a quiet neighborhood street became a bit busier with people driving down to see Mel Tillis’ home. Hannah and I were walking back from the park down the street one afternoon when a car passed us obviously following the celebrity map. When we got home, Mel had just finished working with his tomato plants and was getting on the mower to tackle the lawn. He was wearing blue jeans, a long sleeved shirt, ball cap, and sunglasses. The older couple had pulled their car into the driveway and as Hannah and I walked up, the little lady got out of the car and asked politely,

“Excuse me, but is this where Mel Tillis lives?”

“Yes, ma’am, it is”, I replied.

“Would it be all right if we took a quick picture? We will stay here on the driveway and won’t get on the grass”, she said.

“Sure, that will be fine.” I told her, so she headed back to the car to get her husband. As Hannah and I walked on I heard the lady say,

“George, she said it would be all right. You can get out and take the picture – but wait a minute until that gardner goes around to the back so that he won’t be in the picture.”

Hannah looked up at me with big eyes, and I grinned back down at her. The woman had no idea that the “gardener” was Mel himself. George stood waiting patiently to take his picture.

……………………………………

Mel was a great cook and a great baker. Judy was a good cook also – but it was typically Mel who cooked our suppertime meal. He did two shows a day (2:00 and 8:00) five days a week and would come home in between to cook and eat supper, then get a quick rest before heading back. One day, the 2:00 matinee performance was running long and while he was performing he was thinking about the chicken he had planned to fry for supper. Stepping off stage while the Statesiders band played, he called me hurriedly and told me to go ahead and cut up the chicken in the refrigerator so it would be ready for him to fry when he got home – then he hung up quickly to walk back on stage. I got that fryer out of the refrigerator and stared at it. You see – I had never cut up a chicken in my life. I always bought mine in pieces! I took it out of the package and stared at it some more – then I did what any self-respecting girl would do…..I called my Mother for help. She wasn’t home – and I was getting desperate. The internet wasn’t available to search back in those days – and I didn’t know who to ask or what to do. One of Mel’s older daughters was visiting – home from college for the weekend – and she was asleep downstairs. I went down and woke her up – and together we went to work on that chicken – neither one of us knowing what we were doing. When Mel got home, we had hacked that poor bird into all kinds of pieces – none of them really recognizable. To his credit, he didn’t get upset. He just looked at the pitiful pieces and quietly started breading and frying them. When we sat down at the table to eat, he said, “You all might want to…..cover these with gravy ‘cause I had no idea…….what was what……after you two got through…….wrangling this poor thing!” That was the last time he asked me to do that! Epic fail – but now a fun memory.

……………………………………

Mel was a constant student throughout his life. He loved to read, and he loved to learn – with a mind always creative and curious. I had flown in an airplane a total of one time before I worked for the Tillis’ – so I was still a pretty nervous flyer when Hannah and I started traveling back and forth from the little airport at Point Lookout, MO to the little airport in Gallatin, TN. When Mel was on the flights, however, he was a bundle of enthusiasm and curiosity. He most liked to ride up in the cockpit with Skip, the pilot….but when he was in the cabin he would sit looking out the window spotting planes. “Look, Lisa – there’s one right up there above us now” he would say. “Oop – there’s another – it’s a little one flying under us!” At first, it frightened me to see all the planes in the air around us. I had no idea they were even there until he pointed them out! Over time, I began to be interested, though – and now I think of him every time I fly – and it makes me smile.

……………………………………

Eighteen years ago this month, I took some friends to see Mel’s show here in Branson. I hadn’t worked for the Tillis’ in several years at that point, and I didn’t get to see them as often as I would have liked. It was Mel’s very kind tradition to always do an autograph line after the show to meet and thank the people who came to see him. That autograph line could take a long time, and my group was in a hurry that night to leave and get something to eat, so I decided not to interrupt the line to say hello. (I always felt badly to leave without saying hi – but I also always felt presumptuous to walk up and interrupt the line. I didn’t want to be a bother – but I didn’t want to be rude either! It was always a hard decision for me.) As we were exiting the theater I heard a familiar voice call, “Heyyyyy, Lisa!” I smiled and walked over to give Mel a hug and say hello. His eyes were lit up, and he had a big mischievous smile on his face.

“Did you know I just had a birthday?” he said.

“I did! Happy birthday!”, I replied.

“I’m goin’ on 80, can you believe it?” he stated.

I saw people in the autograph line turning and talking – saying they didn’t realize he was almost 80 years old.

“Mel, you aren’t going on 80!!! You’re only 70!” I said shaking my head.

He grinned, looked me straight in the eye and said, “I know…but that’s…going on eighty!!!”

Makes me chuckle even to this day.

……………………………………

I learned a lot from Mel – and I am grateful to him for everything he taught me. He believed strongly in honoring the flag. I had a t-shirt once with the American flag printed beautifully across the front. He looked at it sharply and said, “You know you’re not supposed to do that, don’t you?” When I asked what he meant, he referred to the flag code and told me that the American flag should never be used as wearing apparel. I’ve never worn a flag in that way since.

He also modeled for me that you should always do your best no matter what. When he decided to put together a cookbook to sell in the theater gift shop, he didn’t farm it out to people in his office – he went to work on it himself. He wanted the recipes to be really good – and to truly reflect his personal favorites. Let’s be honest – the cookbook was probably going to sell pretty well no matter what was in it – because it was “Mel’s Cookbook” – but he wanted to be sure to give people good recipes to try and good stories to go with them. He worked hard to get everything right – and my copy of the cookbook is one I treasure to this day.

When Mel decided to record a gospel album, part of the work was deciding which songs to include. As usual, Mel wanted to get it right – to do a good job. One day at the house he asked me if my Mother had any old Southern gospel albums. I told him she had tons of them – and he asked if he could borrow them. Judy had to buy him a record player to play the albums. During his free time for several days, he sat on the floor playing those old long play records and writing down notes and lyrics from his favorites on a yellow legal pad. He had trouble getting the lyrics to one old hymn he had selected, so he asked me if Mother might have that song in a songbook. She looked through her many songbooks and couldn’t find it – so she called friends around town and finally located it in a hymnal our friends the High family had. Months later when the album was complete, Mel would sing a gospel song during his shows and then give one of the new CD’s away to someone in the audience. One day, Mother and Daddy came to the show and I was sitting in the audience with them. Before Mel sang his gospel song, he asked Mother to stand and told the crowd how she had lended him her records and helped him find the songs for his album. Thanking her publicly, he gave her the free CD. I’ve always been grateful to him for giving her that moment of recognition.

……………………………………

Happy birthday, Mel.

It’s hard to believe you’ve been gone almost three years.

Thank you for the music, the smiles and the laughs you brought to so many, the stories, the lessons and the memories..

I am grateful to have known you.

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Choosing Your Focus

How many of you are, like me, feeling tired? Tired of all the troubles in the world…..the unsettling news we see and hear every day…the worry…the fear. I’ve heard myself saying in different conversations several times this week, “I’m just so tired.”

The information we hear is confusing….and frightening and….(I’ll say it again) tiring. I try really hard. I wear a mask in public, I social distance, and I stay home as much as possible….I try to do what I hope is best – but I miss my old life, my family, my friends, my neighbors – and the places and things I used to visit regularly. I buy my groceries through online orders and I wipe them down before I put them away. I use hand sanitizer after I pump gasoline or use an ATM, and I wash my hands thoroughly many times every day. I try to do everything I know to do to keep myself and others safe….and you know what? I’ve still been worried……and tired. Lately, I have just felt plain tired.

It’s funny – even though I try to read the Word and spend time with the Lord every day, I sometimes forget to pray specifically about some of the things that concern me. I should know better! A few days ago, I started praying for answers…..or direction……or any help the Lord could provide. And at first,, I didn’t hear any answers…..but I continued….because one of the things I know for sure is that He has ALL the answers and He loves each of us dearly….and sometimes we just need to trust. So, I continued to pray. A few days later, a friend sent me a screenshot she had taken from a devotional she had read. She doesn’t usually send devotions to me – but I guess she thought I might like to read this one. She was right!

It inspired and comforted me, so I saved it. It seemed like maybe it could be the answer I was looking for…..but I wasn’t completely sure.

Thankfully…..God is so patient and good! I kept praying and I tried very hard to listen…..and in the last week I’ve seen that very same message in so many different ways….so I wanted to share it with others in hopes that it will encourage you the way it has me.

It’s very simple – focus on the Lord! Keep our eyes on Him – not the trouble around us! Shut out the “noise” as much as possible – and think about the Lord, His promises, His Truths…and just how much He loves us, and everything will be okay.

I don’t think this means that we all get to walk down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. That’s not my point at all! Sometimes we go through difficult, unpleasant things, but God will be there holding our hand if we choose to stay close to Him! This makes me think of a story…

When I was about 15 years old, my daddy had a little used car lot in Green Forest, Arkansas. One of the worst parts of selling used cars are the days when you have to go to someone’s home and repossess their car due to nonpayment. Daddy hated it – because he was a giver and he liked to help others….but sometimes, sadly, it became necessary. His little car lot sat less than a mile from our house, and phone calls to the car lot rang in both places. That way, if Daddy was out talking to a customer, Mother or I could answer at home and take a message for him. One morning, I was home alone and the car lot phone rang several times, so I picked it up and answered “J and J Auto – can I help you?” A man on the other end of the line began yelling and cussing at me – and I was shocked. At that point in my young life, I had never been cursed before and immediately some of my innocence was shattered. I was devastated. Apparently, Daddy had repossessed his car because he had never made a payment on it – and several months and several warnings had gone by. I took a deep breath, tried very hard to stay calm, finally got the man to give me his name and number and wrote them down. I hung up the phone and started to cry. A little while later, Daddy called because he had heard the phone ringing while he was talking to a customer outside. He heard in my voice that something was wrong, so I told him the story. He apologized that I had to hear that and comforted me calmly. After talking to Daddy, I definitely felt better, but still kept replaying those hateful, angry words directed at me.

About an hour or so later, the phone rang again. When I answered it, I heard Daddy say, “I have someone here who wants to talk to you.” The man I had spoken to that morning

came on the phone and said, “I wanted to say that I’m sorry for the way I talked to you earlier. I had no business speaking to you like that, I and I wanted to let you know that it will never happen again.” Feeling a little awkward and embarrassed, I think I said something simple like, “Okay.” and that was it. I hung up the phone, and the feelings of hurt, disappointment, and confusion that I had felt earlier changed immediately. Now, I felt loved, protected, and extremely cared for….obviously my Daddy had made it a priority to leave his work, find the man, and convince him to apologize respectfully. As a result of my earthly father’s efforts that day, a negative situation left me with a positive impact. Our Heavenly Father can do so much more!

Like I said, sometimes we have to walk through difficult, painful, hurtful, frightening situations and times – but our heavenly Father is always there with us. He may not stop the events from happening – but He can help us to grow through them. His plans are good plans – and when we keep our eyes FOCUSED ON HIM instead of all of the problems, He can guide us through all the chaos – and even use this time and these hardships to achieve something BETTER. He loves us so very much.

Isaiah 43:1b-4 (The Message)

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.

I’ve called your name. You’re mine.

When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.

When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you’re between a rock and a hard place,

it won’t be a dead end—

Because I am God, your personal God,

The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

I paid a huge price for you:

all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!

That’s how much you mean to me!

That’s how much I love you!

I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,

trade the creation just for you.

You know what? I firmly believe better times are coming!

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Managing My Perspective

I love the blessings and beauty of nature! Anyone who knows me well knows that I enjoy photographing and celebrating beautiful, unspoiled scenes.

When I first bought my current home, one of the selling points was the privacy, solitude, and quiet of the views behind the property. I absolutely loved sitting on my back patio. The land behind my home was wooded – so I had the luxury of watching the leaves change every fall, of watching snow fall among the trees, of seeing the grasses and leaves bud out every spring, and of watching the trees sway peacefully whenever the wind blew. It was all so peaceful and lovely.

Then, a nearby resort decided to build multi-level condos on that property – almost in my back yard. I was so upset when I first heard it – and the thought of losing those lovely views made me incredibly sad. After feeling sorry for myself for a few days, I firmly made up my mind to make the best of things and find the positives to focus on about the new development. I will admit – it was a little challenging at first. I could talk about some sad moments I had, grieving about what was being lost…..but what purpose would that serve? In the end, with a little effort – I found so many good things!

As it turns out, the lights from the completed resort are actually quite pleasant – and now make things much nicer when I sit on my patio in the evenings. The landscaping and upkeep are very well-done so it’s overall very pretty to see. I was pleased to find that the birds, the squirrels, the deer, and the other wildlife I was accustomed to are still around regularly, dropping by in the early mornings and late evenings routinely. You want to know the best part? It is absolutely wonderful to see and hear families coming and going on vacation – just enjoying one another and having fun.

During the recent months of the pandemic quarantine, things were back to being quiet again. The resort sat vacant, and our little tourist town of Branson was strangely empty. I could once again sit on my patio with no cars driving back and forth, no voices interrupting the solitude, no noisy children playing, no people coming and going……it was in some ways back to the way it used to be……and you know what? I missed it all!!!

Sitting on my patio now as I type, I have to smile. The peace and quiet have once again been replaced…..with so many wonderful sounds!!! Just a bit ago, one family of young teens was playing basketball at the nearby court. I smiled as I heard them giving each other grief, laughing, and enjoying the afternoon. Shortly after they gave up the game and disappeared inside, two little girls emerged to play on the playground. The thin little girl all in black who obviously much preferred climbing up the slides to sliding down them – and the tiny determined little girl dressed all in bright purple who practiced throwing a bright blue kickball over and over – trying so hard to get it up and through the basketball goal. As I’m writing now, two older gentlemen have emerged from the condo they are sharing with their wives and are carefully tending a meal on one of the resort’s charcoal grills. It’s fairly hot out – but they are sitting in the shade, enjoying one another’s company, and carefully checking the grill routinely. Whatever they are cooking smells wonderful – and every few minutes one of their wives walks out of their fourth floor condo to peer off the balcony, call down, and see how things are going. I’m smiling again!

The birds are chirping and the breeze is blowing, so it’s very pleasant. I can also hear muffled traffic sounds from the nearby world famous 76 Strip – people driving back and forth to see the sights. A few times each hour, a helicopter flies over carrying tourists toward Table Rock Lake. Every 20 minutes or so, I can hear the “volcano” erupt at Dinosaur Canyon Mini Golf a mile or so away, probably startling and delighting the guests playing there. (smiling again!) The young attendant at the resort occasionally comes racing down the street behind me at a high rate of speed in his golf cart, always with his left foot dangling happily out to the side and bouncing against the cart. (Who wouldn’t smile when you see that? 🙂 )

There was a time when all the noises and distractions could have bothered me. I’m so glad I made up my mind to see the positives. Sitting here by myself on my patio, I do not feel alone. I feel surrounded by people having fun. People who smile and wave as they drive by, people who are working together to have fun and celebrate life.

I am smiling again.

I hope you are also.

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Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead!

I went for a walk by the lake this morning with a friend.

As I often do when walking by myself, I hopped up onto a parking curb and walked the length of it putting one foot in front of the other. When I reached the end I paused, looked ahead to the next curb, and stepped across the gap without touching the ground. My friend chuckled when she saw me – a 50+ year old woman playing tightrope on parking curbs in broad daylight…..but I didn’t care and just kept on going. After a moment, I smiled to myself as I heard her step up onto the parking curb behind me to give it a try herself. Finding it a bit more challenging than she thought, she hesitated when she nearly lost her balance. “Always look ahead!”, I called back to her. “Don’t look at where you are – look ahead to where you’re going. It makes it easier!” She tried it – and it worked instantly. She too began stepping from curb to curb behind me, trying to walk the entire line without touching the ground. (I only stepped off twice.) It was fun!

As I walked, I thought about the advice I had given to my friend – and how much it actually applies to life.

“Don’t look at where you are…!”

Looking down at our feet throws us off balance and leaves us unprepared for what lies ahead. When we’re looking forward to see where we’re going, we walk more confidently and successfully.

Our lives can often be fairly hectic – filled with bills, decisions, responsibilities, news reports, and the many stresses of life today….If we focus our attention mainly on those things, on where we are, our days can be pretty difficult. Even things that are supposed to be fun can be disappointing!

“… look ahead to where you’re going.”

Setting goals helps us keep our eyes on what’s ahead. One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” This verse can be interpreted in different ways, but I like to think that it means we should have vision for the future, that we should set goals and work toward them excitedly and expectantly. My goals perhaps aren’t always particularly impressive to hear – but they are motivating to me – and they keep me looking ahead to better things.

When I broke my arm this past February, I had no idea how long it would take that arm to feel normal again. I had never broken a bone – so in my ignorance I thought the doctor set your arm, you wore a cast, you got it off, you did therapy for a few weeks and you were good to go forever. This has not been the case at all with me. The break in my arm healed, the cast/splint was removed, and I was sent home with a printed paper explaining the therapy exercises I should do. (Due to COVID-19, supervised therapy was not recommended.) I did the exercises and truthfully they didn’t seem to help at all. I reached out to friends and tried other exercises they suggested. These helped a bit more and I was grateful – but my right arm (my dominant arm) still had a long way to go! I had trouble writing. I had trouble typing. I had trouble driving. I couldn’t even open the door to my car without great effort! My arm was in pain much of the time. Most of my normal day-to-day activities were hampered by my temporarily handicapped arm. So, I kept on working. I tried some new strength building exercises. I researched essential oils to help with healing and applied them daily….and each day my arm gets a little bit better. It’s on the mend! I can now type (obviously! 🙂 ). I can write. I can open the car door. I can drive….

Why did I keep on looking for ways to make my arm better? Because I KNEW it would be fine one day – and I wanted to work to make that happen as soon as possible! I didn’t focus on where I was – I looked ahead happily to the day my arm is back to normal.

It makes it easier!”

How does looking ahead with vision and a good attitude make things easier? Life is happier when we are thinking and planning on good things!

For example, it’s supposed to rain here much of the day tomorrow. So……I can’t go to the pool for a swim. I can’t go for my morning walk. I can’t work in my flower bed.

Hmmmmmm….that means I can plan on a cozy slow morning indoors! I love to read. That sounds like a good option for tomorrow! For some reason, I always enjoy cooking and baking more when the rain is falling outside. I’m already thinking about what to make! Sounds fun! If I’m going to be home in the morning, I don’t have to put on makeup when I wake up! Yay! Another win! I love to write. Maybe I can squeeze in some time for that while it’s raining. Wow! It’s already sounding like a great day! I’m excited!

Choosing to think on good things is sometimes more difficult than others – but it’s worth the effort. It doesn’t mean we should ignore the bills, the responsibilities, the decisions – it just means we should work to not get mired down in them. Worrying about them doesn’t make them go away. In fact, it doesn’t really accomplish anything at all…..but choosing to think on good things can definitely have a positive effect! Try it!

Oh, and by the way, the next time you see a parking curb – step up and see if you can walk the length of it tightrope style.

Go on.

I dare you!

But be careful – seriously…broken bones are no fun! 🙂

(And no – that’s not how I broke my arm! 🙂 No parking curbs were involved in my fall! )

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Adulting Can Be Fun

A few days ago, I had lunch with my mother at our local Cracker Barrel restaurant. As we were leaving, I walked past a retired couple seated against the wall at a tiny table for two. I had to chuckle when I read her sweatshirt. Emblazoned on the front in big letters it said, “Warning! Don’t Grow Up – It’s a Trap!” I stopped to tell her how much I liked it, and we all shared a laugh.

The weather was beautiful that day – very bright and spring-like for February in the Ozarks. Mother and I decided to relax on my porch swing for a bit before she headed home. We chatted for awhile, then we both began to feel drowsy and the conversation slowed. As we sat comfortably enjoying the swing – two retired couples strolled out from neighboring condos to enjoy the afternoon sun. The two men began playing shuffleboard, while the women sat at a picnic table and visited. In a few minutes, another lady joined them and they all sat chatting happily. Before long, the women left their spots at the shady picnic table and headed out to the basketball court, giggling like school girls. Locating a couple of basketballs, they went to work trying to see how many baskets they could make. (Not many! 🙂 ) Their obvious lack of basketball skills definitely did not affect their fun! They were trying fearlessly, laughing at themselves when they missed and chasing the ball down to try again – simply enjoying each and every moment. There were awkward granny shots, hilarious air balls, and even a few great shots that were nothing but net. In the end it didn’t really matter. They were all just having a good time!

Our drowsiness gone, Mother and I sat smiling, now watching both the shuffleboard contest and the basketball tournament with interest. We each selected a basketball player (my player had a blue shirt and hers had a white shirt) and kept score from afar to see which one of our chosen players would win.

It was such a simple, relaxing way to pass the afternoon – and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I am inspired to see people who aren’t afraid to try – even when their skills are not the best. I love finding people willing to laugh at their shortcomings. I appreciate those who step out of their comfort zone instead of sitting on the sidelines. Mostly, I truly enjoy seeing people who celebrate life’s simple pleasures.

Long ago, my first year as an elementary school teacher was both exciting and very challenging. There were so many things to learn that year – so many “firsts” to face. I wanted so badly to do a good job, and I worked very hard every day. I enjoyed my students and my work colleagues immensely – but sometimes I felt overwhelmed and discouraged. In those times, I would often pick up the phone to call my Mother for encouragement. She would listen to my concerns then offer good advice. Sometimes she would share a Bible verse, or a song, or an encouraging poem or article she had saved. I would always feel uplifted. During one such call, however, she completely surprised me. After listening to my discouragement and complaints, she asked me to do her a favor. She told me she wanted me to “school hop” (her term for skipping) up and down my hallway at home two times after we hung up the phone. She insisted on this, telling me that she would be calling back to confirm that I had completed her request. I hung up and stood there alone in my own home arguing with myself. I was an adult now – I couldn’t skip up and down the hallway! Good grief!!! How silly would that be? Reasons why this was definitely not a logical action filled my head. I actually felt annoyed! Didn’t I have enough stress without having to worry about this absurd request??? I questioned whether Mother really understood how I felt – and I turned to walk away, sit on the couch, and think some more about my difficult day. I knew she would call back though – and I didn’t want to disappoint her – so…..I took a deep breath, checked ALL the curtains to be absolutely certain they were closed – and skipped down my hall. I turned around and skipped the other way, repeating the entire process twice. I felt COMPLETELY ridiculous….but you know what? When I had finished – I was no longer thinking about all of the stresses of that week. I was out of breath and chuckling – and my mindset had completely changed.

I think the lady at Cracker Barrel was right, in a way! We don’t ever have to completely grow up. Life has many, many responsibilities, stresses, and chores – but it (can) also hold a lot of joy. Sometimes, even (or perhaps especially) on the most difficult days, we need to square our shoulders, throw aside our worries as much as possible and go outside to play – to act silly, to laugh, to find a way to relax and simply enjoy the blessings around us. It’s not always easy to escape the trap – but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Thank you for reading this post. By the way, today was a very long, busy, hectic day for me. I may just go skip down my hallway now – but first, I’ve gotta check the curtains!

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A Lasting Impact

I have had many heroes and heroines in my life – people who have affected me deeply through words, actions, and examples. We all impact people practically every day – whether positively or negatively. It doesn’t take great notoriety or power to have a lasting effect on others. Sometimes only one brief conversation we have, one quick decision we make, or one action we take can have such a powerful and lasting influence on others…

Last weekend, I drove to central Arkansas to visit family, including my beloved Aunt Bernie. She is an absolute delight to be around, so I always look forward to our talks. A lifelong educator, she loves to discuss teaching, education, and kids. She has wonderful stories of her many years as a classroom teacher, and I love to listen when she shares. Raised with some affluence in Little Rock, she moved to the rural countryside after she married. A city girl, it was an entirely new way of life for her, but she adapted quickly. In her early years as an educator, she taught my father and my uncles in a little two-room country schoolhouse before moving on to a larger, more traditional school (where I later attended).

Aunt Bernie knows the key to being a great educator is building relationships with students – and she has helped to instill the significance of that in me. She does this possibly better than anyone else I know, and I have seen firsthand the lasting impact it has had on her pupils. Retired for decades, she still keeps up with her former students as much as possible. She is saddened when she hears they have faced setbacks and happily celebrates when she hears of their successes. They are, in her words, “her kids” and she is fiercely proud of them all.

When I timidly began school as a first grader, “Mrs. Bernie” was a fifth grade teacher just down the hall. I was so very proud that my aunt was a teacher at the school – and I believed she was the absolute best teacher there. I was always happy to see her during the school day – standing outside her classroom door or supervising students on the playground – partly because she is my aunt – but also because she truly exudes joy and love. She makes others happy with her smile, her laugh, and her genuine appreciation for them, and I felt comforted in my new environment knowing she was there.

When I grew up and decided to become a public school teacher, she was a great encourager. She talked with me about my teaching and my students. She traveled to another state where I lived and proudly toured my classroom. I enjoyed talking with her about my students each year, about the current trends and challenges in education, and the joys and stresses of being a professional educator. She would listen intently and offer good advice. She has always been an enthusiastic listener and supporter. In other words, my Aunt Bernie has definitely been a role model in my life, and I am forever grateful.

While visiting with her last weekend, it was no surprise when the conversation quickly once again turned to education. This time, however, my aunt was so happy to show me an article in central Arkansas’ 501 Life magazine. In the February 2020 edition, there is an interview with a gentleman named Joe Canady, branch president of the NAACP in Conway County, Arkansas. Mr. Canady references people who have had a significant impact on his life including his mother, his grandmother, a lady from his church….and my aunt Bernie. She was so incredibly excited to show it to me.

The entire article can be accessed by clicking the picture. I hope you will read it!

An excerpt is copied here:

Canady was in the fifth grade when his all-black school closed and integrated with Wonderview. While you didn’t have to look far to find racial tension in those days, his new classroom was more awkward than hostile. As the kids gravitated to seats based on their race, one of Canady’s more prominent early role models emerged.

“When the little black kids and the little white kids came together, it was a different experience for us,” he said. “But I remember my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Beeson, mixed her classroom (seating) up. She said we’re one class and we’re all going to get along. From that point on, I held her in high regard as to helping our transition go smoothly.”

That year I mentioned earlier, when I was in first grade was also the year Mr. Canady was in my Aunt Bernie’s 5th grade class. I must admit, my eyes teared and I sat up a little straighter when I read his words…and I was (and always am) so proud to be her niece.

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Forrest L. Wood

I’ve heard about fellow Arkansan Forrest L. Wood for most of my life, but sadly I never had the privilege of meeting him in person. My daddy visited with him once or twice and considered it an honor. I certainly knew of Mr. Wood’s notoriety. I have seen his plaque on the Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hot Springs. I’ve heard the stories of his many noteworthy accomplishments in the fishing industry. In the early 1980’s, my high school GCE teacher, Mr. Jerry James, took my class on a field trip to tour Ranger Boats, the company Mr. Wood founded and operated for many years. Last summer, while on vacation approximately 665 miles from home, I had lunch at a restaurant on the shores of Lake Pepin in the tiny village of Pepin, Wisconsin. While chatting casually with a couple who had boated in that day to eat at the little restaurant, I spotted the man’s Ranger Boats ball cap. When he found out I was from Arkansas, he asked if I knew Forrest Wood.  It was fun to feel that connection to home from all those miles away, to smile with pride at the mention of one of Arkansas’ own.

Forrest L. Wood, a native of Flippin, Arkansas, achieved worldwide fame as the Father of the Modern Bass Boat. Most anyone in the fishing industry readily recognizes his name. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Mr. Wood began building boats in 1968 in the back of a filling station. That was the beginning of Ranger Boats, a successful business he owned and operated with his wife, Nina until 1987. More recently, Mr. Wood played a vital role in the development of an exciting new boat company, Vexus Boats, again in his hometown of Flippin.

In the late 1990’s, Mr. Wood was appointed to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission by (then) Governor Mike Huckabee. A legend in the sports fishing industry, Mr. Wood received numerous accolades and honors in his lifetime including (to name only a few) – induction into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sportfishing Association of America, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BASS Federation, and the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame Legacy Award. The FLW Tournament was named in his honor. The list truly goes on and on and on…

The state of Arkansas lost an iconic legend last Saturday when he passed away at the age of 87. The news spread quickly on social media. Posts began popping up on Facebook, Twitter, and Internet news, as many friends, family members, and fans paused their busy days to stop and pay tribute to a gentleman they admired greatly. Reading through those tributes and personal stories shared this week, the true success of this legendary giant is realized.  My eyes have teared up more than once.  Here is just one example: (Please read it – it’s definitely worth your time.)

Success comes in many different forms. For some, it means material wealth, widespread fame, the achievement of goals and dreams, and a legacy that continues long after you are gone from this earth. Mr. Wood achieved all of these in his lifetime – but reading through the many tributes shared this week – it is readily apparent that he achieved much, much more. I was taught that the true success of a person is told by their character. By all evidence, Mr. Wood’s character, faith, integrity, and work ethic are his most impressive and enduring legacies. His life, a life well-lived, should be a role model for many.

He truly was a success.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRczd2MXCKQ

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v_WomWkZYQ

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Always a Tiger

I was only eleven years old the very first time I stepped onto the campuses of Green Forest Schools. It was the fall of 1978, and I was beginning my sixth grade year…Being at a new school was scary, but I quickly made dear friends and settled in happily…

Fast forward four decades –

A week and a half ago, I finished my last day as Federal Programs Coordinator and Director of Instruction for the Green Forest School District – leaving that position to pursue another opportunity. I walked through every hall and down every sidewalk that last day with the district. My goodness! There are so many memories on every corner.

I went into the high school on the old junior high side of the building. (That’s the north side – for those of you too young to remember!) Years ago, we used to have a Pepsi machine in the hall outside the principal’s office. I don’t remember the price (maybe a dime?) – but as a student if you hurried between classes you could stop just outside the principal, Mr. Allison’s office and purchase a pop. You would put in your money and a paper cup slid down and filled with slightly cooled soda – which you had to gulp quickly to finish and get to class before the tardy bell rang. I thought it was quite a privilege!

I had to smile as I walked down that old hall. Regardless of who occupies the rooms today, for me, the classrooms at the bottom of the stairs will always be Mrs. James’ (on the left) and Mr. Fancher’s (on the right). Mrs. Taunton’s library was at the end of the hall back then. High school room 120 will always be Mr. Rose’s room in my mind. I spent four years in that room learning algebra and geometry from him. My friend, Jonie Standlee, served as high school counselor for all the years I worked for the district – but to be honest (sorry, Jonie!) she was really hanging out in my high school counselor, Mrs. Sturtz’ office all that time. Teachers, classmates, friends – everywhere I looked, I saw memories of so many special people.

Mrs. Fultz’ Home Ec. building and Mr. James’ GCE building have been moved. One is still used as classroom space – the other simply now serves as a storage building…

I fell asleep in Mr. James’ class one day – but only once! Always a jokester, he allowed my classmates to pile little broken pieces of chalk on my ear until I woke up and the pieces crashed to the floor. Lesson learned – it was the last time I fell asleep in class and I am smiling now at the memory.

Our “Class of 1985” picture is displayed on the wall just outside the teachers’ workroom. Our Senior Monument is on display outside the “Old Gym” where we survived nearly terrifying (but exciting!) dodgeball games in Mrs. Hodges’ P.E. classes.

The building we called the “new gym” when I was in school is now the “Grim Gym” in honor of Coach Fred Grim. I remember when Shane Compton played ball for Coach Grim back in the day. Now Shane is walking in Coach Grim’s footsteps, serving as boys’ basketball coach for the district.

My classmates and I graduated high school in that gym 34 years ago. Ten precious members of my family were sitting in the second row, on the floor, to the right, proudly watching me graduate. If I close my eyes I can see them sitting there. In many ways, that seems like only yesterday…..but I open my eyes knowing that four of those ten loved ones are gone now….

I headed toward elementary down the same sidewalk I walked daily as a sixth grader – our class in a straight line following Mr. George Wheeler, our teacher, to lunch. The old sidewalk isn’t used as much anymore. Back in the day, they would bus us to the cafeteria whenever it rained. Today, there is a nice covered sidewalk for students to use that follows an even shorter path.

Our old sixth grade classroom has now been remodeled into offices for the principal and the nurse, but I remember how it looked back then. Mr. Wheeler had a polished wood and glass display case in the back of the classroom with all sorts of insects and plants and rocks he had collected. He even had his tonsils preserved in a jar – displayed for all of us to see. I remember being both grossed out and fascinated.

I walked across the playground where I once met Festus Hagen (Ken Curtis). That was my first year at Green Forest, and I was so excited that a big celebrity was at our school. I knew this had to be a very cool place if a Gunsmoke actor visited! I mean really!!!

The tetherballs and basketball courts where we played back then are gone now – a building addition stands in their place – but I remember how it looked. I remember it all – both the faces and the places.

I consider it a very great honor to have had the opportunity to go back and work for my alma mater. It was truly a privilege – and one I will forever cherish.

Thank you, Green Forest Schools. Always a Tiger.