Heaven and Lent

Heaven is...the front porch in Dahlonega, the laughter on the beach with the family, the faces as you walk into FPC Hartsville, the smell of Grammie's mac and cheese, the sparks from the bonfire at Thanksgiving, the taste of boiled peanuts dad prepares, the late nights watching tv with Robert, the view from the steeple at Covenant, the sunday school rooms at Dahlonega Presbyterian, meeting my great grandmother and gramps, the smiles on my cousins, the way Robert looks at me, Christmas eve at the Lane's, cuddling with my sisters,  candle light services, montreat on a snowy day, hugging my Papa and hearing stories about the farm, opening stockings at Memama's and Mr. Guys, brat pack weddings, boat rides in st. simons, mom's canned corn, pc on a spring day, singing hymns of praise, watching young people serve...Heaven, i believe, we can experience here on earth. I have been thinking a good bit about heaven...heaven on earth. How we choose to live each day. Two weekends ago a good friend passed away. I have had a hard time knowing what i am feeling, hard time watching my sisters grieve. Funerals scare me. I don't like them. However, I have realized in these past two weeks that Funerals can be a beautiful celebration of a life lived. As Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to talk about death - we get to be with our sweet sweet Jesus! But we dont' tend to bring up death at the dinner table. I will never forget when my family was worshipping on Sunday in Dahlonega, as we sang "Here I am LORD" my mom leaned over and told me to please play this song at her funeral. ever since each time i here "Here I am LORD" tears streamed down my face of joy! Joy of the relationship i have with my mom, my parents. Joy of the lyrics shouting "here i am do be your disciple...USE ME!"
During this time of Lent, we prepare for the crucifixtion and resurrection of our Lord. A time to pause, to reflect, to fast, to pray, to forgive, to say HERE I AM. Honestly, Lent is my favorite time of the year. Lent isn't on the shelves at Target...Lent is still a time of the church year we are mindful of sacrifice, of love, of unconditional love.
So God, Here I am, along this wilderness road, this lent, as I journey through life. Here I am striving to take in each moment and to embrace living eternally with Jesus and singing sweet sweet songs on a front porch with Robert by my side . Here I am!

I'm a BIG SISTER!

Yes on the day Maggie and Robbie were born I proudly showed off my "I'm the big sister"  shirt matching my little sister, Elizabeth! I have never stopped wearing that shirt (not literally!)! It is an honor to be a big sister! Don't get me wrong, at times I have dreamed of being the baby of the family, but i have to say I love and enjoy being the big sister of three beautiful young ladies! Back in the day of playing house, building forts, playing truth or dare, wow i was one bossy big sis!! Now my bossy like nature that overtook me as an eleven year old has turned into a motherly sister! I love my sisters so much I don't want anything bad or wrong to happen to them...but how am I doing them any good protecting them! It is such a joy watching them become who God is creating them to be! Bubba use to dance around the house naked and bounce off the walls as a little girl! The twins use to steal clothes out of my closet and try to dress like me! Now, Bubba dances to the tune of helping young children learn how to dance and the twins...well they wouldn't be caught dead wearing my "grandma" clothes as they say...my little fashion divas!! I am one proud big sister! I worry about the twins at school, i worry about all three of them with boys, I worry about people hurting their feelings...i constantly worry! However, I also pray! I pray that God is always with Elizabeth, Maggie, and Robbie! I pray that God continues to show them love and grace! I pray for them today and tomorrow! The best gift my sisters have given me would be loving Robert! On the night of our rehearsal dinnner they affirmed their love for Robert with the most beautiful of words and the tender love of their tears!

I cherish the days we played basketball in the driveway; the days we played "our version" of kickball in the front yard; the days we played school; the days we ate around the dinner table and hid our carrots; the days we lined up for mom and dad to dry our hair as we watched Seventh Heaven; the days we all cheered on the sidelines for Lumpkin County; the days I traveled home from PC to see my sisters in all of their activies; the days we cuddle in the bed and catch up; the days we spend on the beach at Litchfield; the days we dance; the days we have now; and the days to come! I'm a BIG SISTER! Whenever anyone has ever asked me what I want to make sure I do in life, besides now adding I want to be a good wife to Robert and soon one day a mother, I say I want to be a good big sister! Thanks be to God for the gift of my little sisters! I love you Bubs, Mags, and Robs!

I love Amy Grant!

 From "Baby, Baby" to "It's Gonna be a Christmas to Remember," from "Father's eyes" to "I Need a Silent Night", I adore Amy Grant! She has such pose and a light about her! On Wednesday night, while at Association of Presbyterian Church Educators Annual Event in Nashville, TN, Amy Grant shared her story, her passion, her music. As I listened to her share of her family, her faith, her love of life, I couldn't help but smile and be so grateful!!! While in Montreat and here in APCE, I have been blessed with being surrounded by beautiful Godly women! I love truly seeing Christ face on my friends in ministry! I thank them all for inspiring me to continue to seek after our awesome God! I thank them for their love of God's people young and old! I thank them for believing in me.
As Amy Grant spoke of her family, my mind ofcourse went to images of my family! Besides my faith, our family is the most beautiful gift I have been given. Robert and I have loving grandparents, inspiriational parents, amazing siblings, and an extended family of aunts and uncles, and cousins alike! We have been blessed! Frank in his sermons at small town Dahlonega Presbyterian Church would always use the following benediction: "May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet and may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you!" I see the face of Christ in our beloved family!

Good ole Montreat and Snow DAys!!

Images of time spent in Montreat run through my mind like a slide show capturing God moments throughout my journey of life! I can remember the first time I came to Montreat with Dahlonega Presbyterian Church! I can remember Frank saying, “Neeleybird, you have got to go to Montreat.” From that day, I haven’t been able to stay away from this holy place! Youth Conferences as a teen, youth conference as a leader for First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville, Youth conferences as a planning team, youth conferences as a Director, Montreat for College Conference, Annual Recreation Workshop, and leading Church retreats…Montreat has molded and shaped my faith in a variety of ways. God has challenged me through innovative worship experiences, dynamic small group conversations, experiential learning, deep theological conversations and questions, and an extended family to affirm my gifts and God’s calling on my life. The spirit of Montreat is a contagious laugh, a hug from a long time friend, a walk around the lake, an auditorium full of young people singing “Glory Alleluia”; Montreat is a place I call home!
Last night while in Montreat, snow started to fall! Snowflakes christened the ground and trees became fluffy white! I cherish snow…the purity of it as it falls and covers the earth. My favorite thing about snow is that it sparks memories of snow days in Dahonega on 45 Highland Road! My sisters and I would tumble down the hill in our back yard while dad videoed us and mom yelled “girls, be careful!” We would make snow angels out front in the yard and eat the snow like it was a “snow cone” (we even put food coloring in the snow one time!!!). One snow was rough in Dahlonega, blizzard of 98, I believe. We, all 6 of us, were stuck in the basement! Nightmare…not quite! I loved it! We cooked on the wood burning stove; we played cards; we laughed; we performed our latest cheerleading routine -- I believe we experienced God in that Sabbath time of being still and totally present with each other. That is what I love about snow! Snow slows us down! God says, “Look around you at the beauty and purity of snowflakes and be still!” I also remember snow days at Presbyterian College! We would play out in front of GDH; we would ice skate on the back of KA fraternity house porch; all precious memories of my PC family laughing and spending time with one another! I can also remember the first snow Robert and I experienced together!! We were in Hartsville and he came over to my place on Barefoot. We laughed and watched Bailey jump around in this foreign white stuff! Bailey put a smile on our face and have no fear we took pictures! Snow is a beautiful thing! Thank you God for the snow I saw falling last night that sparked such sacred memories of God moments in my life today and yesterday and I am excited about the snow to come!

God is good!

Over the past couple of weeks I have discerned the idea of blogging! The idea of sharing our story and how God is at work in and through us! Wow! God said...Neeley go for it! Expose your faith, tell your story, reflect on the beauty of life! So here I am! Ready to tell our story of our beautiful families, our callings, our days as newlyweds (almost one year in two months!!!), and our thoughts!
I am currently in Montreat working on a conference for May! Its amazing how much planning happens for the future and it makes me ponder...am i really living for TODAY!
Nevertheless, the start of 2010 has been full of a plethora of God moments! Robert and I kicked off 2010 in Orlando, Florida in Disney World! I felt like i was 11 again with the fam exploring  Disney(i remember mom having the twins on a leash!!)!! We had a blast! On my way back to Charlote, I was held up at the airport. I was angry, frustrated, and sad. I realized in the airport by myself (not knowing how to be a "stand by" passagenger!!) how much I am so not in control! We struggle to control everything in our lives, at the moment, alone in the airport, I had to take a step back knowing GOD is in control!!! Goodness what a great feeling! Later that same day, I traveled back to home to Hartsville! Talk about experiencing God: lunch date with the one and only Jeri Perkins, afternoon visit with the Timberlakes and the Norwoods, and dinner date with incredible youth of First Presbyterian Church...goodness i miss you all! As I drove to Columbia that night, i couldn't help but thank God for yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Wow! AS i reflect back on 2009 - new home, new calling, newly wed,and all so so fun!God has definately led Robert and me down a beautiful path together!! Speaking of Robert, what an incredible man! i fall more and more in love with him as we learn more about each other through this married life! He has such ambition, a passion for his job, a dedication to his friends, and a love for our families and loves me!! i know i have said this before but Robert reminds me so much of you, Dad!!! I have married my best friend an am grateful!!! I love you Robert Lane!
So cheers to2010 and the journeys ahead of us!Looking forward to: running first 10k with Cara! Celebrating one year with Robert! Brat Pack Reunions! and many more fun times and memories with FAMILY!!
This past Friday i took a group of 20+ youth from Covenant (a place i love and have been able to grow so much!!) snow tubing...our passage for devotions was Ecclesiaties 3:1-8...A time for...and today is a time for reflection, a time for gratitude, a time to celebrate, and a time to be excited about what is to come!!!....So my first blog... a little scattered...i hope to get better at this!!
Pictures above: Us on New Years even and supporting the Charlotte bobcats!! o yes being sporty! Also, a picture of Bailey!!!!