FAVORITE THINGS

I have to say that the month of April has just about flown by. When I last posted, UK was about to play the University of Louisville in the NCAA Tournament. Wow, it all just seems like a blur, looking back. Of course, UK beat Louisville and every other team that was in their way as they rolled on to the NCAA National Championship Title. I considered it a perfect birthday present and was able to receive many t-shirts for my birthday earlier this month. I also got out the box that contains previous years' championship t-shirts for 1996 and 1998. Whether the Final Four took place in NYC, San Antonio or New Orleans, I now feel able to wear them all again. As much as I loved Tubby Smith as a person, teacher and mentor of young men, it was difficult to accept the level of basketball excitement that we, in the Big Blue Nation had come to expect during the Pitino era. Yes, we finally feel that Kentucky Basketball is back where it belongs, and we're hopefully going to chip away at the record that UCLA holds at the top of the list of most NCAA championships. Though no one that enjoys college basketball, wants to see players leave after one year, it has become apparent that this is the way it is. So, shall we make lemonade from this sour trend of one and done. We in the Big Blue Nation will support our coach and his method of taking outstanding, talented recruits and getting them to believe in themselves and the philosophy of what's best for the team, is ultimately, best for them as individuals. A fond farewell to Darius, our beloved senior Kentuckian, Terrence and Doron, who both stayed one more year to achieve gr8tness as a team, and our amazing freshmen, Anthony, Michael and Marquis. We wish them all the success in the world as they head on to the next chapters of their lives. I've been blessed over the years to have amazing people in my life. God has given me friends, family and neighbors that have helped, through their loving examples, to mold me into the person that I am. I was even made aware of a special Bible scripture that, I felt, represented the Psalm for me. In Psalm 16, it states that the "saints who are in the land, are my glorious ones in whom is all my delight". I am so happy and thrilled when opportunities present themselves to spend time with those individuals who have been so special to me throughout the years. This Spring has opened up opportunities to spend time with many of those who I consider to be some of those saints. And speaking of saints, I finished Tim Tebow's book, Through My Eyes. As he reflected in the final chapter how God is in charge of his life and he will use whatever platform he is given to glorify Him, I was just amazed to know that God has given him the latest, largest platform available in our country, New York City. I know he will do awesome things with each and every opportunity God gives him. Our weather has been crazy. I think March started out feeling like summer, then winter returned. We got several early morning killing frosts one week. After that, I realized that it had taken a terrible toll on, not only the early blooms of the Black Locust trees in my yard, but also, the wisteria vines. I enjoy both these flowering clusters of fragrant blooms, so much and I am really missing having them in my yard. I'm hoping the wisteria can bounce back and survive as their vines have not produced the blooms as yet. But, out of the many Black Locust trees in my yard, I've counted only two that have surviving white blooms at the tops of their limbs. These are such unusual trees, many of which you need to be careful of, as they have painfully sharp thorns growing from their trunks and branches. Amazing that they also produce some of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers. I did enjoy finishing my Lent study as it culminated it's readings of Holy Week. Next year I'll strive to be more disciplined in the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. I'm afraid there were a lot of distractions this year. Now my attentions have turned to helping with a Beth Moore Bible study for my own church. I had enjoyed taking such studies at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington and the time appears right to finally get one going at our little country Methodist church. If you haven't heard Beth Moore do a Bible Study, you should try to experience one. She is an awesome Bible teacher. Today looks to be sunny and heading back to average April temperatures. I hope to visit a quilt show over the coming days. Would love to rekindle my love of quilting. It's been a while since I've done that. Quilting ranks right up there with birdwatching and taking country walks on my list of favorite things to do. And, we do have a pair of bluebirds setting up housekeeping in our bluebirdhouse out in the yard. I look so forward to seeing them start their first family. I just hope the recent appearance of bluejays in the yard, doesn't cause any problems. Bluejays can be vicious. The UpperRoom daily devotional readings these past few days have included two of my favorites. Luke 6:41 states, "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" And today, Leviticus 19:18 states a theme that is repeated over and over in the New Testament, "you should love your neighbor as yourself". I think if we can all practice these two main focuses of Jesus' teachings, we will have a much greater impact on those around us. I hope you have a great day and enjoy some of your favorite things. luv, Susan