I'm Back!!!!

Seems like it's been forever since I have posted. Lots of things have happened, some good, some not so good, but all part of learning and growing!

My youngest daughter and I traveled to Europe in June. Check out our trip in Lessons in Living!

I am working on some home improvement (pinterest redecorating ideas) stayed tuned for pics of those!

I am back at the computer making final revisions on my novel, "I Will See You in Glory". You can read Hardie's Story on my webpage latresawebsterphillips.com.

Oh, and ahhh…34 days til school starts….(But who's counting)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

What a beautiful weekend to honor our veterans for their sacrifice! And praise our Heavenly Father for freedom of worship and a home in heaven. I hope each of you will truly embrace the spirit of this holiday and enjoy the love and fellowship with those in your life, your community, your church and realize the sacrifices that brought all of this about.

Remember a Savior who died to sacrifice His life for all who will believe and accept and give them eternal life for all eternity.

My BFF!!!!!

            I remember when it happened actually, the moment she became my best friend, my confidant, my partner in crime, and my sister from another mister. We had been friends for quite a while. We coached a high school cheerleading team and were spending quite a bit of time together. On the outside we appeared to be very different. I was eight years old when she was born. I grew up in the mountains while she was a city girl. She was a dancer, and I was a cheerleader.  I had been married for almost twenty years, and she was still a newlywed in my eyes with just a couple of years of marriage under her belt. She was a proud mother of twins who were just beginning their journey through life, while I was a proud mother of two teenagers and a wise beyond her years eight year old. It seemed that we were worlds apart. And then it happened. She became my best friend….

            My grandmother had been ill for quite a while when she succumbed to the dreadful disease of ovarian cancer. She died in the fall. I was especially close to my grandmother, and even though we knew death was inevitable and would be a blessing when it came because she would leave the pain and suffering behind and enter paradise to live with her Savior. My papaw would also be there to greet her as well as other family members that she had lost throughout her life on earth. Still, losing my grandmother was a hard thing to do. She not only was my grandmother but a dear friend that I loved to visit with. She would always listen to my words, always made time for me. She would truly listen and not give unwanted advice like I have seen other grandparents do. She listened. Losing her was a changing point in my life. She had been the only grandparent I had known for almost a decade, and as I became a wife and mother, her advice and her approval were very important to me. Losing her was hard.

            I remember standing in the church at visitation and greeting friends and neighbors who had come to show their respect to my grandmother and comfort my family. I remember looking at the door of the church and seeing Tammy walk through the church door. She had a very uncomfortable look on her face as she walked toward me. She held a card in her hand. As she approached me, my heart melted, and she stepped inside that broken heart and never left.

            Tammy coming to my grandmother’s visitation was special in many ways. You see, there were friends that I had known forever who didn’t come. Not that I don’t understand prior commitments and travel issues, but many just didn’t come. I knew that Tammy had never been to a visitation before. She had never experienced death in her family on a close level where she was expected to attend funerals and such. She came for me. She came alone, and I knew how hard that had to be for her. She knew no one except me, and she came, just for me.

            My grandmother died **** years ago. I still miss her. Some relationships can never be replaced. But my friendship with Tammy began to grow. We began to spend more time together at practices, games, and on the phone. The more time we spent together the more we shared about our lives. We knew who the other had dated in high school, what was our most embarrassing moments in life, what we loved the most, what we feared the most. We just began to grow together in a way that best friends do. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t grown up at the same time, in the same place, or were the same age. We just began to live our lives together. A song would come on the radio and Tammy would say, “That was my favorite song when I was in college,” or I would say, “We had a pom routine to that song when I was in high school”. We realized both of us had been given Annette as a middle name, and we each had a story to share about how we had received it. Just little moments of sharing bits and pieces of nothing joined us together on a level I had never experience before in a friendship though I had many, many dear friends.

            We became family, a family of choice. We had a love and respect for each other that was very hard to find among friends. One of the hardest times of my adult life was when Tam and her family moved from our hometown and settled about four hours away. That was such a trying time for me to give up our daily visits and time together to phone calls and holiday visits. It was a time I feared I might lose my bestie to circumstance. However, true friendship cannot be broken and absence does indeed make to heart grow fonder. This just doesn’t apply to our significant others, but to true friends as well.

            I cannot measure the times when my heart has been broken by family issues, and I pick up my phone and have a text that reads, “Hi! I love you!” or “Good morning Sunshine.” She can make me smile when I hurt and laugh when I cry. I know the Lord placed her in my life for a very special reason, and even though we may not see each other every day, we love each other every day, and I know if I need her, and she knows if she needs me, we are just a phone call away. I love you Tammy Annette Buff Wilson!!!!!

Stressed backwards spells Desserts!!!

This week while I was reading my devotional, I discovered that failure to trust in the Lord produces stress in our lives. The fact that I deal with a tremendous amount of stress causes me to dig into the scriptures and search God's Word for myself. In Philipians 4:8 we read,
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Okay, pure thoughts and love in action are two important gleanings I can take from this scripture. I am also drawn to the first nugget, "whatsoever things are true". When I worry over my family, I am not taking into account God's truth that is repeated in the scriptures:

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Matthew 6:34  “Therefore take no though for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought  for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn  of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

And so… I lay my burdens down at the feet of my Savior and I refuse to pick them up knowing that He and only He is able to take care of my family! Thank you, Lord for your Word and your Promises!

Lord help me to be Salty!!!!!

            Nothing tastes better in the summer time than a fresh tomato sandwich with mayo on fresh bread. I think I could eat a tomato sandwich everyday during the summertime as one of my meals. However, if I had to cut back on the salt that I sprinkle over my tomato, I may have to pass on the entire sandwich.

 When my husband and I first married, he always had to dump an entire saltshaker on anything I prepared because his food demanded salt and lots of it, and salt was just not something I normally thought about when cooking. As years have gone by (almost 28 of them) I realize that adding salt to a meal during preparation enhances the flavor, and I appreciate the outcome. My husband still takes the saltshaker and covers his food so it resembles a recent snowfall, but I have come a long ways in realizing how important seasonings can be to our foods.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used salt as an illustration of a Christian:

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thence forth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13.

            Salt was a very important commodity in Bible times. It was used to preserve their meats, flavor their foods, and heal their wounds. It was even received as payment for a days work for Roman Soldiers. It was necessary for survival.

            As a preservative, salt was used to prevent decay and spoilage of meat. As Christians, we should try to preserve our faith and our heritage by protecting God’s Word, hiding it in our hearts and living it in our everyday lives. Our influence on others should prevent decay of morals and worldly desires.

            As a flavor enhancer, salt adds seasoning to bland foods that seem tasteless and boring. Col. 4:6 tells us “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” We should show a tasteless, boring world how much more satisfying their lives could be in Christ.

            Salt can also be used to heal wounds. If you have ever placed salt in a wound, or waded into the ocean with a sore on your leg and felt the salt water touch it, you know how bad it can burn. But the burning brings forth healing. Sometimes we must face pain and seek comfort from Christ in order to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually.

            Dear Lord, Please help me to be a salty Christian and give others a thirst for you!

He Has My Tears in a Bottle!

Psalms 56: 8

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

Some days life just gets too much to handle. No matter what my sorrow, or longing may be. I know I can always find an answer in God’s Word.

Our lives change everyday. Some days are so hard to handle, but we must take comfort. As Christians, our lives are in God’s hands. Isn’t it amazing to read in the Psalms that God catches our tears in a bottle! He cares that much. I’ve shed many tears over my lifetime and to think that He has each and every one accounted for.

How can I not trust Him? How can I not worship Him? How can I not serve Him?

We shouldn’t worry or think about tomorrow-We don’t even know what is going to happen today!

The world is full of troubles. But if we hold to His hand, and ask for His mercy and His strength, when bad days come, we will have what we need to face them!

Fifty-Two Lessons I have learned in fifty-two years!!!!

1. Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans!
2. Love conquers All!
3. Never miss an opportunity to tell people what they mean to you.
4. Be true to God-and yourself!
5. Surround yourself with positive people-negative people suck the    life out of you!
6. Make friends-not enemies!
7. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything!
8. Learn to say NO!
9. Never think someone can't take your place!
10. Dare to Dream!
11. Step out of your comfort zone often!
12. God has all your tears in a bottle!
13. Use your best china everyday, not just on special occasions.
14. Travel makes great gifts-wonderful memories to last a lifetime and it doesn't get too little, lost or broken!
15. Respect your elders-they are responsible for your future accomplishments.
16. Be proud of your heritage.
17. God is good…All the time!
18. Be yourself-no one else can play the part.
19. Family usually makes the best friends.
20. Not all family is blood related.
21. Do what you love and love what you do.
22. Don't judge-you don't know what you would do until you face their circumstances.
23. The God of the Mountain is still God in the Valley!
24. You fall in love many times in life-if you are lucky it is with the same person-I'm lucky!
25. Words hurt-think before you speak!
26. Being a teacher is like being a missionary.
27. Being a grandparent is truly "grand"!
28. Housework will always be there-family won't!
29. Take naps!
30. Don't wait to chase your dreams, start now!
31. Live in the moment!
32. Growing old is a blessing-enjoy every day!
33. God always answers prayers-sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait.
34. Never be too busy for someone.
35. When in doubt, throw it out-covers a lot of topics in life.
36. A deep breath is medicinal!
37. The simpler, the better!
38. Go with your gut!
39. Live for the future, not the past.
40. Reflect often.
41. Never get comfortable with yourself, always evolve to be more.
42. The Bible is the greatest romance novel you will ever read!
43. Never stop learning!
44. The older I get, the less I know!
45. Music makes everything better.
46. Reality TV is NOT Real life!
47. Always eat dessert!
48. Mothers make the best of friends!
49. I don't know how I how survived without my cell phone for 40 years!
50. Prayer is the best medicine.
51. Pretty Little Liars is the best show ever! And we will never know who A is!
52. Diet drinks are poison!!!

Superbowl Sunday!!!(Now who's playin' again?)

 When I was in seventh grade my teacher told me,"You are a disgrace to the Webster family!" (Really, how's that for building self-esteem?) You see, I come from a family of athletes and well…I'm not. We were playing in a basketball tournament, and I was forced to play. I knew nothing about the sport, and I could have cared less until the moment I found myself with the basketball in my hand and everyone else on the other end of the court. So what's a girl to do but….shoot! Swoosh! Score! (How was I to know that after half-time they switched the goals!)

Years later, I'm still not a dedicated sports fan. I love high school football games! I mean, everyone in town comes to the game and you can visit with old friends and catch up. I love the kids, my students and former students are playing, and I love to watch and cheer them on! After all we have won more 1A State Championships than any other team in the state. But I don't know the rules and I don't really care to learn them. I just enjoy the socializing.

Last night at our Super Bowl gathering, I sat and played with Cam and ate and talked while others cheered on their teams. I didn't even watch all the commercials. I do love the cameraderie that family and friends exhibit for the big game. 

Have you ever thought how the big game can relate to your life spiritually? We have a coach-God has called us to be on His Team.
Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ."

We have competition. 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour."

We have rules. God's laws and the ten commandments keep us in the game and give us points of reference for gaining or losing ground.

We must train for victory. 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

We don't play alone. We are part of a team. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh in all." Only when each player works with the other players with the same goal in mind, do we achieve our goal.

Victory! A winning team in the Super Bowl may win trip to DisneyWorld and a ring, but we will receive the crown of eternal life! 2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up of me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

I may not be an athlete, but when I focus on Him, and I run the plays He calls for me, I will move toward His Goal and be a winner and spend eternity with Him!

Are We There Yet?

I don't know about you, it seems I have lived my life by "when I get…when I go…when I have…or when I do"….or even past tense
"when I was…or when I went…" you get the picture, right?

As I look at the present, in a little over a week I will be 52, yikes! I realize it's pretty great being in the here and now! I mean…I'm healthy for the most part (old age creeping in), I have the most amazing 23 month old grandson ever, I have 3 beautiful children (grown) a husband who tolerates and loves me anyway, a wonderful family, wonderful church family, great job and co-workers that love me (except for Koty, LOL) nice, warm home, I just completed my first novel (a lifelong dream come true) and more blessings than I could ever count.

So why do I continually look beyond the present and stretch for something that may never be? I hope to spend the fifty-second year of my life just enjoying where I am. I mean, that's where I am, right?
I am there? Are you there yet?

Elvis,Powersurges and Basketball...

What a month! As you should know on January 8th we celebrated Elvis' birthday! Can you believe he would have been 80 if he had lived? I actually had reservations to attend his birthday celebration at Graceland this year and canceled at the last minute because I had a gut feeling that I should stay home. As I watched the cutting of the birthday cake live on the internet, not only was Priscella there, but so was Lisa Marie and all four of Elvis' grandchildren…and I missed it!

I really have no regrets considering the bitter cold weather that hit that week. Maybe I can make it next year. I hope to go to visit Graceland in the spring this year. Memphis is one of my favorite spots, so much to see and do and all things ELVIS!

We had a very exciting week at school. I thought I was losing my mind when my computer kept saying it had lost connection. I jiggled and pulled every wire in my classroom. One minute it was working fine and the next it would shut down. After lunch there was an announcement that we were having power surges in the building and everyone was asked to head to the gym. What fun with 200 middle school students and teachers in a gym with no electricity. After we were all in the gym they turned all the power off to the building for safety. My nerves were really shot! And let's not forget the three middle school basketball games we had this week. Guess who works the concession stand for the games? Yep, what a week. You've heard the saying too blessed to be stressed…I guess that's me.
Very Blessed,
Latresa :)

Welcome 2015

This is my first post of the New Year! Time seems to fly by so quickly. Just look at my grandson, Cam. He will be 2 years old in March. That just doesn't seem possible.

Our Christmas was challenging this year. It was the first year that my precious sister-in-law Karen celebrated Christ's birthday with Him! What a joyful Christmas to celebrate with our Lord and Savior, however, it left a big hole in our Christmas celebrations. Karen was always a planner and kept us all straight on where we needed to be and what we needed to bring. You never really realize all the "firsts" you must encounter when you lose someone you love and someone who is such a part of your life until they are gone.

Our family received the gift that kept on giving this year for Christmas-the stomach bug! It started with Cam on Christmas Eve and he "shared" with a total of 13 others in the family throughout the week of Christmas!

Hopefully as temperatures plummet this week, the germs will die out and kill these viruses and flus that are plaguing us across the country.

I spent the biggest part of my Christmas Break trying to organize my kitchen with the aid of pinterest. What did we do before pinterest? I ended up with five large garbage bags of unnecessary things or outdated food items. It shamed me that I had been so wasteful with the canned goods that could have fed families in our community, but because of my lack of organization skills and thoughtlessness, the food was ruined and no one benefited.

The financial waste was also shameful. I'm not much for New Year's Resolutions, but I do hope to make better use of my time by trying to stay organized and being more money conscious in the coming year.

I pray that I can learn to be a better friend and be more dependable to those who are in my life! Life is just too short on this side!