The meaning of James, according to the baby name books, is "he who supplants." The synonym for supplant is "succeed." No matter which branch of this gal's family tree you choose to climb, you'll find a plethora of James's, including my little variation of Jaimee. Grandfathers, uncles, in-laws, brother, nephew, and the one and only Daddy.
If you've had the pleasure of meeting my Daddy, you well know he is a complex man wrapped in a simple exterior. His favorite nuggets of wisdom: "Do as I say, Not as I do" and "I just keep my mouth shut, and I stay out of trouble." His deep voice, sometimes gruff to others, can sooth the rowdiest of babies and children. He's almost like a pied piper in that area. Although I don't remember the exact words of love he bestowed on me and my sister more than two decades ago, seeing my Darby tear up a few weeks ago when Daddy gave his "dating speech" reminded me that when he does speak, my Daddy's words are profound and heart touching.
Daddy has always made our famly priority number one. He and mama may not have been able to give us three everything we demanded on the exact minute we wanted it, but they would make sure our hearts were content and, most importantly, filled with an immeasurable amount of love. Not everyone knows this, but when my Mama and Daddy renewed their marriage vows the summer of their 25th year, it was entirely and totally my daddy's idea. He is my Mama's number one fan and the basis for which I used to choose my husband. Daddy's focus is always us...his greatest loves.
Each of us has had the wonderful experience of being Daddy's "favorite" for a day. There is something special and cute about those days spent on the creek or where ever we were when we had his undivided attention. Daddy takes great pride in making sure we each know how much he loves us. I think three of his proudest moments were the days Gayla, James II and I graduated from college thus completeing one of Daddy's life's goals of having three college educated children. Each of our weddings' pictures show you a man with great love and pride in his children as he gave them to another to love just as much as he loves us.
It is safe to say my daddy James Moore is a success.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
I is for Ice
One Christmas morning about a decade ago, instead of waking up to presents and family, sister and I awoke to my daddy packing our cars to get us on the road home before an ice storm hit Texarkana. We literally raced the storm back to DFW. Sister and I spent that holiday holed up with frozen dinners and each other. Although not our most favorite memory of Christmas, we had each other. No matter the situation, we always had each other. In just the last four years, Gayla spent at least two nights in a hospital with me maybe three. She was always counted on for anything to do with going to an event for Darby. The best times were just lazing around on Sundays watching movies or NASCAR. Together. Gayla's presence always made the hard times better and the good times the best.
H is for Hug
If my sister Gayla could have taught the world to give a proper hug, we would be celebrating world peace. She didn't dispense one-armed half hugs either. Gayla wrapped both of her arms around you and made a point to not be the first one to let go. My sister really knew how to love. Hug your family and friends today and every day!
*taken from the introduction to myGayla's memorial tribute
*taken from the introduction to myGayla's memorial tribute
G is for Gayla
Girly girl from tomboy
Always smiling and loving the world
Your best friend whenever you need one
Loving, laughing, living out loud
Away for a while but to be with us again someday
Always smiling and loving the world
Your best friend whenever you need one
Loving, laughing, living out loud
Away for a while but to be with us again someday
Thursday, April 7, 2011
F is for Friend
Friends are people we are attached to by affection. They are people we rely on ... people we help and are helped by. Friends are the family we choose. Someone once told me, "Friends are the people who see your faults, your temper, your dirty laundry, and they love you anyway." Seems these days I have more friends than I ever imagined, and I am blessed.
MyGayla was my best friend from the day I took over her world of only-child-dom. I was blessed that my best friend was also my sister. We may have argued and bickered like siblings do, but we always loved each other. My husband was shocked and amused when I told him we fought just like sisters do. He said he couldn't see it. I'd tell the stories but just don't have it in my heart right now.
F is for Friend. It's also for FORT. Friends help each other build forts of all kinds. When we were growing up, Gayla, James and I were tight. We played together like any other children. One day in March of some year in the 80's, sister and I had the bright idea to build a fort in our back yard. We drug all of mama's kitchen chairs into the backyard, borrowed some plywood from daddy's garage, and made a fort with a quilt floor. Gayla, genius that she was, even pushed one of our bikes up to the "door" to act as a sliding glass entryway into our kingdom. We played in and around our little castle for hours. I don't remember much else or why this is an important event to me. I just know that it is a happy memory.
MyGayla was my best friend from the day I took over her world of only-child-dom. I was blessed that my best friend was also my sister. We may have argued and bickered like siblings do, but we always loved each other. My husband was shocked and amused when I told him we fought just like sisters do. He said he couldn't see it. I'd tell the stories but just don't have it in my heart right now.
F is for Friend. It's also for FORT. Friends help each other build forts of all kinds. When we were growing up, Gayla, James and I were tight. We played together like any other children. One day in March of some year in the 80's, sister and I had the bright idea to build a fort in our back yard. We drug all of mama's kitchen chairs into the backyard, borrowed some plywood from daddy's garage, and made a fort with a quilt floor. Gayla, genius that she was, even pushed one of our bikes up to the "door" to act as a sliding glass entryway into our kingdom. We played in and around our little castle for hours. I don't remember much else or why this is an important event to me. I just know that it is a happy memory.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
E is for Elephant
Somewhere in her almost 14 years, my darling daughter Darby decided her favorite animal was an elephant. She named almost all of her stuffed toy pachyderms "Ellie" or "Phantom." Her Aunt Gayla told me a story once about her taking Darby to the store for groceries. In true Darby fashion, she convinced her Aunt G to "just let me go look at the toys. We don't have to buy anything." Sister said Darby found a cute fluffy elephant, held it up and smiled that beguiling Darby smile. Gayla told her maybe another time, and when recounting the event to me, said, "Y'all don't stand a chance! That little cutie hovered over and around the elephant just hoping I would tell her to go ahead and get it." True to Gayla form, Darby received that little treasure for Christmas a few months later. Push over!
Elephants are known for their memory, intelligence and wisdom. They have no known natural predators, but human poachers rob them of their lives for their tusks. I pray my sweet girl has picked a symbol for herself in the elephant. Darby has already shown us that she is strong and sturdy, a dependable friend and kind soul. I hope for her to be mindful of others, to remember all the love she is given, to use her intelligence for good and to always (or almost always) make wise choices. I beg the world to protect her from predators of all kinds. It's never too much to ask; I hope it's not too much to expect.
D is for Dog
Yes! We are "those" people. Our dogs are our babies. My mama even calls them her granddogs! When we lost Sofie and Ellie in December 2008, I just couldn't imagine having any more. However, Chad saw it differently, and we brought home Hope a week later. Two weeks later at her first appointment, I was crushed to find out Hope's heart had a murmur. We decided then if her life was to be shortened, she needed a sister to play with as much as possible. Enter Faith. For a time, we didn't think Hope's heart would sustain her much longer, but Faith's spunk (and twice daily heart meds) have given Hope a year more than we were told to expect. In fact the vet told us at her last appointment to keep doing whatever we are doing because it's working! Both babies have been my snuggles and comforts in this terrible ordeal. Just goes to show a little Hope and Faith makes the world a better place!
Monday, April 4, 2011
April is National Grilled Cheese Month
If you google April, you'll find that it is National Child Abuse Provention Month, National Humor Month, National Poetry Month, and on and on and on. MySarah sent me a text yesterday letting me know it was also National Grilled Cheese Month. Out of all the more important awareness issues that this month represents, NGCM is the one I am focusing on because my sweet precious Gayla was a grilled cheese fanatic!
When we were in college at UNT, sister and I had the very good fortune to be roommates for my first two years of higher learning. During that time, I was an employee of the student union's night grill, and I learned to make the most amazing grilled cheese sandwhiches. Just like tieing perfect bows on her dresses and French braiding her hair, Gayla always wanted me to make her a grilled cheese for lunch/dinner (sometimes breakfast!) because, "You make them the best!"
We have joked during the last two weeks that a lot of our interactions with Gayla revolved around food. Funnily enough, at one time sister told me, "I hate eating! I wish there was just a pill that we could take that would give us everything we need to survive." I suppose in time, Gayla learned that around the table is where we meet the family that we collect as well as grow with the family that God gave us. Certain foods remind us of home...that's why they are called comfort foods. Grilled cheese is home...I'm so lost and uncomfortable right now without my Gayla, and I just wish I could make her a grilled cheese sandwich.
When we were in college at UNT, sister and I had the very good fortune to be roommates for my first two years of higher learning. During that time, I was an employee of the student union's night grill, and I learned to make the most amazing grilled cheese sandwhiches. Just like tieing perfect bows on her dresses and French braiding her hair, Gayla always wanted me to make her a grilled cheese for lunch/dinner (sometimes breakfast!) because, "You make them the best!"
We have joked during the last two weeks that a lot of our interactions with Gayla revolved around food. Funnily enough, at one time sister told me, "I hate eating! I wish there was just a pill that we could take that would give us everything we need to survive." I suppose in time, Gayla learned that around the table is where we meet the family that we collect as well as grow with the family that God gave us. Certain foods remind us of home...that's why they are called comfort foods. Grilled cheese is home...I'm so lost and uncomfortable right now without my Gayla, and I just wish I could make her a grilled cheese sandwich.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Our Values Rule Our Relationships
One of the greatest blessings I have been given is the relationship I have with my husband. Every single day we spend time telling each other about our day and celebrating each others' successes while finding that silver lining in our less-than-successes.
Recently, hubby dearest was expounding on such a situation at his cubicle-laden, mouse-maze office. His frustration was with the pass-the-buck, that’s-not-my-job mentality that seemed to have invaded his team. In my infinite wisdom, I pulled out a basic principal in public relations: successful communications and relationships are based on individual values. The core values we share with others will directly affect our ability to have fulfilling relationships, whether those relationships are with friends, family or even co-workers.
To prove my point about how Hubby’s values being in direct conflict with those of his co-workers causing a lot of strife in his office, I chose to show him how shared values provide for strong bonds. Using the same media some might say is killing the human bond, I polled my social network via Facebook with this post:
“20-hour fb inquiry...on a sheet of paper write the top five things you value (love, honesty, etc.). Send me your five things in a message not a post. I'm curious if my friends, family and I share common values. I'll post the findings without outing anyone so be honest.”
Twenty hours later, here I sit compiling my data and inwardly preening at the success of this informal social experiment. To be fair, here is the blah-blah-blah breakdown: 11 respondents, 62 responses, and I chose the final categorization based upon my five core values (after all, I am trying to prove my friends’ compatibility with myself, right!). Also, the respondents ranged from friends aged 17 to 30+, with whom I have had relationships with for more than a year (some since I was a little girl child). All respondents were female, but that’s another study for another day.
Drum roll please! With my core values of relationships, honesty, peace, fairness and communication, I had to add “other” to catch the laugh-out-loud values such as “a burger.” Relationships were of highest value, with 91% of the respondents listing spiritual, familial and friendly relations as top priorities in their lives. Honesty and Peace tied for second sharing 31% of the total votes. Fairness received 11% of the respondents’ attention, encompassing traits such as empathy, charity, kindness, respect and compassion. Communication was lonely with only my vote, but if you dollop it onto the “other” pile, we only differ in 13% of our values. But, hey, some of the best friendships are deep relationships because of the variety we bring to each others’ lives.
Now, I haven’t devised a plan for my man to poll his co-workers, nor his exit strategy for escaping from the building before they tar and feather him. However, maybe he can watch for some of their actions and listen to their word choices, categorize them in correspondence to his five core values and find a path to better communication or at least better understanding.
Recently, hubby dearest was expounding on such a situation at his cubicle-laden, mouse-maze office. His frustration was with the pass-the-buck, that’s-not-my-job mentality that seemed to have invaded his team. In my infinite wisdom, I pulled out a basic principal in public relations: successful communications and relationships are based on individual values. The core values we share with others will directly affect our ability to have fulfilling relationships, whether those relationships are with friends, family or even co-workers.
To prove my point about how Hubby’s values being in direct conflict with those of his co-workers causing a lot of strife in his office, I chose to show him how shared values provide for strong bonds. Using the same media some might say is killing the human bond, I polled my social network via Facebook with this post:
“20-hour fb inquiry...on a sheet of paper write the top five things you value (love, honesty, etc.). Send me your five things in a message not a post. I'm curious if my friends, family and I share common values. I'll post the findings without outing anyone so be honest.”
Twenty hours later, here I sit compiling my data and inwardly preening at the success of this informal social experiment. To be fair, here is the blah-blah-blah breakdown: 11 respondents, 62 responses, and I chose the final categorization based upon my five core values (after all, I am trying to prove my friends’ compatibility with myself, right!). Also, the respondents ranged from friends aged 17 to 30+, with whom I have had relationships with for more than a year (some since I was a little girl child). All respondents were female, but that’s another study for another day.
Drum roll please! With my core values of relationships, honesty, peace, fairness and communication, I had to add “other” to catch the laugh-out-loud values such as “a
Now, I haven’t devised a plan for my man to poll his co-workers, nor his exit strategy for escaping from the building before they tar and feather him. However, maybe he can watch for some of their actions and listen to their word choices, categorize them in correspondence to his five core values and find a path to better communication or at least better understanding.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Never Pray for Patience
"Oh, no!" my friend trilled. "Never ever, ever, ever pray for patience!"
You are probably as confused as I was when she delivered this edict to me almost a decade ago. My wise friend's advice finally runs clear for me today. You never pray for patience because the only way you get it is by withstanding and/or out-living a trial.
For instance, you pray for patience with your children. God delivers to you the most mouthy, sassy pants you've ever had misery to cross. You earn your stripes by still helping the little darlings to maturity. The solution: pray for the children to be appreciative of the blessings they are given. See the transference?
In another situation, a friend of my family prayed for patience until she could take time off. Later that day she had the misfortune to get into a car accident and break both her legs. Her six-week convalescence is not exactly for what she prayed. In hind sight, maybe she should have prayed more specifically for time to spend frolicking on a warm, sunny beach. Pray specifically!
Today, I reference Psalm 27:14, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." In essence, pray for strength and courage but never patience.
You are probably as confused as I was when she delivered this edict to me almost a decade ago. My wise friend's advice finally runs clear for me today. You never pray for patience because the only way you get it is by withstanding and/or out-living a trial.
For instance, you pray for patience with your children. God delivers to you the most mouthy, sassy pants you've ever had misery to cross. You earn your stripes by still helping the little darlings to maturity. The solution: pray for the children to be appreciative of the blessings they are given. See the transference?
In another situation, a friend of my family prayed for patience until she could take time off. Later that day she had the misfortune to get into a car accident and break both her legs. Her six-week convalescence is not exactly for what she prayed. In hind sight, maybe she should have prayed more specifically for time to spend frolicking on a warm, sunny beach. Pray specifically!
Today, I reference Psalm 27:14, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." In essence, pray for strength and courage but never patience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)