QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Re-Opened Doors by Garrett Larson

Have you ever had a favorite restaurant or store that closed? When I was a kid, we went to an Italian fast-food restaurant called Fazoli’s. My family went to there almost every Sunday for lunch after church. A couple of years later, all the Fazoli’s in Jacksonville closed, probably because they did not have enough business, which was devastating to me. If I had known they were going to close, I would have given them more business and told more people about it.

My favorite item on the menu was the Italian Sampler, which included Spaghetti, Lasagna, and Stuffed Shells, along with all-you-can-eat, steaming hot, garlic bread sticks. To complete my meal, I had a refreshing ice cold Coca-Cola. Since they closed their doors, I have not found a replacement. Keep in mind, I come from an Italian family and can eat the best Italian food anytime. But Fazoli’s was fast, fresh Italian for on the go.

One weekend, I traveled to Tifton to spend time learning about Biology from my brother’s Father-in-law. On the way there, we drove past a Fazoli’s sign and my heart skipped a beat. My mom promised to take me there on the way home. During the entire time I was in Tifton, the restaurant was in the back of my mind. All I could think of was the Italian Sampler and the never-ending breadsticks.

It took and hour to get from Tifton to Valdosta, which seemed like forever. The Sampler was exactly the way I remembered it… hot, saucy, and delicious. I ate every bite! Even though there isn’t a Fazoli’s in Jacksonville and I’m still craving their food, all I have to do is drive to Valdosta to eat at a Fazoli’s.

If you could re-open a place that has closed, what would it be and why?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is the one item (besides your Bible) you would most want to have with you? Explain your answer.

OK, I know what some of you are thinking... there is no right or wrong answer and really, anything goes on this one. This might sound bizarre but I would want my pillow.

I have a great pillow right now and I would certainly want this particular one with me on my island, but any pillow would do, under those circumstances.

When I was a very young girl, I had a latex foam pillow that I really loved. I loved it so much, I carried it into my marriage with me 30 years ago. I used it for a good while, even though it did not match my husbands pillow on the other side of the bed. That would bother anal retentives, but it never bothered me.

One evening, I knew it would be my last night sleeping with it. I unzipped the protective cotton cover and saw that the majority of the contents had turned into a pile of yellow crumbs which resembled crushed Captain Crunch cereal near the bottom.

The next day, my search began for the perfect replacement. After years of trying, I had finally found one that felt right. It's one of those memory foam pillows that is contoured for your head. It will never be the same as my old pillow, but I have had many a good nights rest with it.

That is why I chose my pillow. I figured a good nights rest would be pretty high on the priority list while stranded. With all those strange sounds in the night, my pillow would be a comfort - something I could hug if I was scared.

I could even draw a face on it and talk to it when I got lonely.

Not to mention, much softer that a rock to sit on.

As I pondered further, I thought of a dozen other things I could use my pillow for.

That's my choice for now. Who knows, it might change after this gets posted. I might want my iPad instead.

Cyberpsalmist

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

S'MORE FUN, PLEASE!

Last night, I hosted an outing for the Youth Group at my church, Oakleaf Christian Fellowship. Mom's and dad's, along with their teenagers, journeyed to Connor's Amazing Acres, which is a corn maze, out in the middle of nowhere, Florida. Under the sliver of a moon hanging low in the night sky, we found our way through a corn maze in the dark, gazed at the stars on a hayride, and huddled around a bonfire roasting marshmallows; the perfect way to spend an Autumn evening.
(Pictured left: Mom's in the corn bin!)

What could be more fun than trudging through a dark corn maze full of thrill-hungry folks, earnestly trying not to get lost? Our only hope to ever make it out was to answer various clues that either left us lost or sent us right on our way. Every now and then, something or somebody popped out of the dark, sending ear-piercing shrikes into our quiet, rural surroundings. With the help of a flashlight and a good attitude, our team made to the exit in one piece.

After the maze, our entire group boarded two trailers filled with fresh hay and set out for the "back 40," where we enjoyed a star-gazer's delight. The sky was filled with sparkling illumination, set in the sky by His Majesty, Himself. City folks like us sat amazed as we are not usually able to see such a stellar display. The tractor's engine, along with the rise and fall of excited voices, were the only sounds we heard on our lazy hayride.

Last but not least, the highlight of the evening... S'mores! I'll never forget where I was the very first time I ever ate this delectably sweet combination of three very simple ingredients. The marshmallows must be roasted to perfection and then slipped between two crisp graham crackers, along with the addition of a small slab of chocolate. The key is patience... patience to wait for the chocolate to melt BEFORE you take your first bite. And then the inevitable happens - you want s'more S'mores!

With just the right amount of chill in the air, the S'mores, hayride, and corn maze were a perfect Fall fit. Everything from the long and winding drive to our destination, to the last roasted marshmallow, it was a fabulous evening. I'm a glutton for fun and already I'm ready for S'more!

If you could name one thing you can't get enough of, what would it be?
Cyberpsalmist

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

A Must Read

I recently had to move on in an area of my life. Everyone kept asking me what was "wrong?" I guess it was either my mood, facial expressions, or the fact that I feel unsociable at times that gave them cause to wonder. What I had to get friends and family to realize was, it wasn't about what's "wrong" with me, it was about what was "right."

Generally, I'm a pretty happy, easy going person. Granted, my Italian temper goes from 0-90 in two seconds but I calm down just as fast as I light up. While I can't give myself an excuse to be angry and sin, I do recognize this trait to be somewhat cultural. Italians have been described in many places as fiery and feisty... short fused and intense. On the other hand, we are passionate people, full of mercy. My mood can obviously change like the direction of the wind, happening any time and not necessarily generated by mood.

My mother said that even as a baby, my mood was happy. Her most difficult task was feeding me - I would rather smile than drink my bottle. I don't notice if I'm smiling or not since for me, the expression has nothing to do with how I'm feeling. I guess my face doesn't know the difference. Then there are those blank days... it's like when the computer tower is on but you forget to flip on the monitor; everything is running like it should, only know one else can see the screen. For someone like me, it's perceived as "something is wrong."

Not only am I misunderstood, I'm not aloud to be unsociable. My husband finds this the most difficult trait of mine to comprehend. He is used to seeing me on a stage (as well as partly responsible for putting me there) which to him is synonymous with sociable. What he hasn't grasped is although I have no trouble communicating with large crowds of people, I am more comfortable in smaller groups. Sometimes this doesn't translate well.

My life is an open book so don't just look at the cover. I've been known to laugh when I'm suppose to be serious and cry when I'm happy. Whats more, my reactions are not always what others expect. Yet deep inside, all is as it should be and God has complete control of my life. Whether it be an inherited disposition, a blank stare, or bashful demeanor, it's possible to read me wrong.

When are you misread?

Cyberpsalist

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Chunk of Change

Fall is the time of year when I think about change... the weather begins to change, the leaves change color and the time changes, due to daylight savings. Although change can be good, bringing spice to my routine, not all modifications bring improvement. Sometimes it's inconvenient and comes at the wrong time. Other times, I get weary in the waiting. If I could change three things about my life right now, I would want to grow about four inches, remodel my entire house, and go back to college to finish my degree.

Being vertically challenged has its advantages. For some reason, people associate youth with height. I guess it's because adults are usually looking down at children. Who knows, I never question a good thing. Another benefit is being placed in the front row when it comes to photographs. Regarding dressmaking, being fun sized means I need less fabric to make a garment. But sometimes I just wish I could be about four inches taller. Those extra inches would definitely put me in a different height/weight category... you know, those dreadful charts the medical professionals use to determine if you are overweight - or not.

The other thing I would like to see changed is the interior of my entire home. I love my property and the layout of my house is cozy, but it's in need of serious architectural reconstruction. Although right now I'm in the process of remodeling my kitchen, I'm already thinking about the next room I need to transform. With its wood paneling and drafty windows, my red brick ranch home reflects the true style of the sixties and the sixties are where it's stagnated. Every day, it begs me for a face-lift! I wish I had the money to remodel it all at once, then at least all the rooms would have some sort of design cohesion.

The last thing I'd change would be the sense of unfinished business that hovers over me like a gray cloud. After high school, I went away to college to pursue a degree in Clothing and Textiles. It covered everything from Fabric Science to Drafting & Design. I was completely immersed in my field of my dreams but due to unforeseen circumstances, I never completed the course. To this day, I live with gnawing regret. I met the Lord between the Spring and Fall semester of 1978 and because of the massive changes taking place in my life at that time, I never made it back to school. Although I was able earn a living using my sewing skills, I never reached the goal I had intended for myself. There is something to be said about finishing what you start. Who knows, maybe one day I'll have the opportunity.

If change is possible, then we need to be chasing after it. Our desire must be strong enough to give us the gumption necessary to grasp hold of that which is still within our reach.

Sure, changing my educational status from incomplete to finished is slightly possible, and a whole-house renovation is feasible, if I can lay my hands on a big chunk of change. But in order to add four extra inches to my stature, I'm gonna need a creative miracle, and according to Matthew 6:27, ("Has anyone, by fussing in front of the mirror, ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?" The Message) it won't benefit me one bit! Ugh!!!

If you could change three things about your life, what would they be???

Cyberpsalmist

Question of the Week

BESIDES DESSERT

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with string,
These are a few of my favorite things."

Not mine, but Maria from the movie, "The Sound of Music." Although I have compared myself to her, our opinions differ when it comes to what tickles our fancy. Some of the things I call favorites include tomatoes, two wheels and twilight.

My family has a special spaghetti sauce recipe which goes back many, many generations. It is not written down but learned "over the shoulder of the older." This ritual right of passage is usually a rather big event and includes a meal made by the student. Only family members are privy to the recipe so just in case you thought you could weasel the recipe out of me, know there's NO WAY to get it except you "marry in." (Line up, guys and gals... I still have three available offspring who have rights to the recipe!) Do I need to tell you how absolutely delicious this gravy is? That it's robust flavor and delicate texture draws taste-buds for miles? How it's aroma leisurely mesmerizes anyone in it's path? The "Sauce" makes anything it relaxes on, my favorite.

Speaking of relaxing, nothing eases tension like a ride on my motorcycle. From start-up to kick-stand down, all my stress seems to roll off as I slip the clutch into gear. It's sleek profile and classy burgundy/cream exterior give me a sense of pride, knowing he was modified just for me. (Yes, you heard me right, I said "he." I prefer my motorcycle be male instead of female.) Some of my favorite roads take their residence in the mountains of North Carolina, but when I can't be there, a ride along the St. Johns River through Mandarin in the moonlight beats all.

Moonbeams on the river remind me of twilight touching the soft cheeks of my sleeping children. I especially love tip-toeing into my kids rooms to watch them sleep. They don't believe me when I tell them about the kissing liberties I've taken... not having to fight a child who's too busy or too old for such nonsense. It's my way of getting what's mine, not to mention how gratifying it is.

Enjoyment comes in many forms and what floats your boat or makes you smile varies tremendously from person to person. The beauty of it is no one need agree with your choices. I truly believe God intended for simple pleasures to reverse negative circumstances. That's why it's no coincidence that "stressed" is "desserts" spelled backwards!

My curiosity is up! What are a few of your favorite things?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

UNDER MY SKIN!

In general, I'm a pretty easy-going person. I tend to see the glass half full and give people the benefit of the doubt. But there a few things that get my goat, rub me raw, and just plain stick in my craw. I get angry when people cut me off in traffic, when something sticky gets spilled, and when innocent children suffer abuse.

Honestly, I don't understand why people would want to cut me off. In fact, I take it downright personally. While it's not always easy to be Mr. Nice Guy, preferring the other driver, it's especially difficult to smile at the idiot who is mercilessly merging onto the highway, as though they were there first! This is a true test of my self-control.

If you want to test the strength of my last straw, just spill something sticky in my kitchen. To put me over the top, forget to clean it up! I have zero tolerance for this kind of offense. It not only affects me, it spreads as you take your next step, going where you go, leaving its nasty trail for everyone to step in. The clean up is endless.

Endless describes the ripple affect abuse has on innocent children, as well as generations to follow. From the robbery of all self-esteem, to the possibility of an inherited behavioral trait themselves, this injustice takes the cake. According to the scriptures though, I am allowed to get righteously angry about this. So much so, I am moved to pray for those who have no voice and no defense. My intercession to the Father can then become their silent cry when no one hears.

Whether my peeves are personal, spread to others, or affect upcoming generations, these all get under my skin. But I have come to realize that how I respond to these situations, whether internally or external, is really what's on the line. Still, abuse is unjust, sticky is unnecessary, and road rudeness is totally undeserving.

Question of the week...

What three things grind your gut, blow your fuse or really cheese you off and why?

Cyberpsalmist

Question of the Week

MAKING MY LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE

Some of you may have seen the movie "Bucket List" starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It's about a man who keeps a list of all the things he wants to do before he kicks the bucket. After finding out his time on earth may be cut short, he decides it's time to get as much checked off the list as possible. Seeing the movie, coupled with having the "C" word knock on our family's door, I began to consider what my bucket list might have on it and decided to share with you three things I have yet to check off.

Out of all seven continents, I have only been on two. I've traveled more than I ever dreamed I would, seeing such countries as Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, England, Denmark, Sweden, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, not to mention the Bahamas and 38 of the 50 US states, including Hawaii. But my desire is to have my feet touch all seven continents. I have five more to go.

For me, traveling fulfills one of my deepest heart desires, but running a close second is singing. I grew up in a very musical family and watching Mom sing every weekend in nightclubs made it look so easy. With that kind of an influence, it was as natural for me to pick up a microphone as it was to bake a cake... she taught me how to do both with ease. Today, we each use our talent to glorify His name but I still have a longing to sing those same standards she use to sing. One day, I would love to record some of those old tunes myself.

Recording is not as costly as traveling to five more continents but going to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City for three months might come close. I have always dreamed of enrolling in one of the three month internships at IHOP-KC. The program is designed to immerse you in a deeper walk of intimacy with Jesus as well as expand the prophetic giftings. Although I could take my two youngest teens with me, I haven't figured out how to be gone from my husband for that long a time. Besides the cost of the internship, housing, and food, saving for this would have to include numerous trips back and forth so we could all see each other. Maybe this one is too big a dream.

Have I sight my sights too high or fallen short when it comes to grabbing at the abundance He promises? Already, I've had the opportunity to travel, visiting places all over the world. More recently, I've accomplished some extreme personal challenges I thought I would never face. Yet each new adventure has been totally Spirit led and truly purpose driven. Some have accused me of going through a mid-life crisis while others think my new found hobbies are pretty cool. My check boxes continues to grow and I've finally decided nothing on the list is impossible unless He says no.

Please share three things you have on your bucket list...
I'd love to know!

Cyberpsalmist

Question of the Week

The first time I went bowling, I thought, "No sweat, I can handle this. Just throw the ball down the alley and hope for the best." Little did I know the weight, aim and release of the ball had everything to do with my success at knocking down the pins. After numerous gutter balls and one very embarrassing moment, I realized I had a lot to learn.

As I write this blog, I am sitting in a noise-ridden, teen populated bowling alley, where two of my children are members of a league. The exhilarating sound of balls striking pins means the music playing over the sound system is taking a back seat. In front of me is a rack of balls in all sizes, colors and weights.

Normally, I would pick up the lightest ball I could find and assume that because of it's weight, I had a good chance of sending it straight down the lane. But that's not always true. Too light a ball can be a detriment. When a ball is too heavy, the weight makes it almost impossible to swing your arm and get the momentum you need to strike the pins.

Not only is weight important, aiming the ball means everything. There's a pocket bowlers look for where the ball can strike down the most pins. I found out the marked arrows in the lane are there to help you with just that.

Another technique that is crucial is knowing when to release the ball. When it's time to swing your arm into action, you must follow through and let the ball go at just the right place before letting go. Dropping to soon means less forward motion; letting go too late doesn't take advantage of the momentum already in progress.

So much to think about! Why can't I just have some fun and forget all of this technique mumbo-jumbo? Can't I just throw the ball down the alley and hope for the best like I said earlier? The last time I did that, I under-estimated my strength (bowling with too light a ball) and sent it two lanes to the left! After that, I decided I better learn a little bit more about bowling.

That was soooo embarrassing!!!

Question of the Week- Tell me about one of your most embarrassing moments

Question of the Week

COMING ATTRACTIONS

I was thinking about one of my favorite movies the other day. I realize most of you would not have this title on your top 10 list but it most certainly sits high on mine. Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer opened nationwide in living color around March of 1965. It might have been the era I grew up in, the architecture of the old theater, or the fact that this true story slightly mimicked my own life which contributes to the fact that this movie ranks very high on my list.

I grew up in a day and time when movies stayed in theaters for months and only one movie showed at a time. The Stardusk Drive-In was my parent's favorite theater because they could pile us all in the back of the station wagon in our pajamas with a grocery bag full of popcorn and a thermos jug of Kool-Aid. What made the venue inexpensive and family-friendly was the fact that they were charged by the carload instead of by the head and conveniently located on the grounds just below the huge screen were several rows of swing sets for bored, restless children.

The movie I'm talking about was not shown at the drive-in.

It played at the beautiful, historic Sheboygan Theater. I still remember the midnight blue ceiling of the theater with it's realistic sparkling stars. The interior resembled a summer evening in a romantic Spanish garden. Happy to have any seat on the floor, I dreamed of sitting in the box seats above me, just like in the movies. I anticipated the opening of the velvety scarlet colored curtains which revealed the shimmering silver screen.

Little did I know that same movie screen would also reveal a piece of my life. Just as Maria longed to devote her existence to the Lord through music and a life-long commitment to the church, I shared the same passions. At a very young age, I asked my parents if I could visit a convent to either prove or put to rest my desire to become a nun. Like Maria Von Trapp, I had a permanent song in my heart but my desire for children always seemed to get in the way of choosing a life of celibacy.

Four children and many songs later, I look back on the way that movie impacted me. I needed Maria to show me that I could serve the Lord just as fervently outside the convent as in. I needed the Mother Superior's advice to follow my heart and I sincerely needed Captain Von Trapp to instill hope that a Lover and a Rescuer would soon come for me as well. Whether it was the era, the building or the movie's mirror imaging, the "Sound of Music" was a coming attraction of my life.

What movie has made a big impact on your life and why?

I'd love to know...

Cyberpsalmist

Chrissy Larson

MUSIC TO MY EARS

Lately, I'v been thinking about how music affects me. I have cd's in my car that rotate, going from my player to the visor storage case and then to the house. Some have a shorter season than others while others rarely get the eject button.

It's been said that music is the universal language. I know this statement is true from first-hand experience. On my first missions trip to Jamaica, I was performing a sound check with an instrument that had a built-in rhythm section and used a drum beat to test the sound system. As soon as it began to play, people stopped what they were doing and started to clap or dance along. Before the beat started, folks wondered who I might be and what my business was there. But after the rhythm filled the room, nothing mattered.

My mood will often dictate what I want to listen to. If I feel like putting an exclamation point on my emotions, I'll choose accordingly. On the other hand, if I need an adjustment in attitude, I will use certain music genre's to accomplish that. I saw a wall plaque that defined this appropriately... "Music is what feelings sound like."

Technically, music is the art of organizing sounds and silence. The composer decides which instruments to use and when, along with when to let the song breathe. The Bible describes that moment as a selah, or intentional space given for the purpose of meditation. Not all writers and composers give regard to the fact that music is therapeutic, whether they like it or not. It can be either positive or negative. I learned one of the best lessons from an instructional DVD series which pointed out that measures of rests were just as significant as the measures with music.

Music affects people in more ways than I have described here. It truly speaks a language

everyone understands, can enhance your mood or change your frame of mind, and provides

either healing or harm. Anyway you define it, it's music to my ears.

If your life was a song, what would the title be? Why?

I'd love to know...

Cyberpsalmist

Chrissy Larson

Are We There Yet?

I still remember asking that as a child amongst five other siblings, who inquired just as persistently and random as the last one. My poor parents... they did all the planning, preparing and packing, while we pecked away at them with that age-old question, all the way to our destination. The answer was always the same - "almost."

Now that I'm a parent, I see the torment that accompanies this simple scenario. Your innocent, loving children, with adventure in their hearts, sitting in the back seat, dreaming of what their destination will be like. Will it be wide open and spacious? Not like that of the car for the last 17 hours. Will they have to share anything? Maybe their siblings will somehow disappear into thin air. Will they be allowed to run like the wind with no boundaries and curfews in this new utopia?

On the contrary! My mind is conjuring up ways to keep them close, safe and protected in our new and strange environment. If they could read my mind as we come to the end of our journey, their dreams might be shattered. Now, don't get me wrong... I have a bit of a wild spirit myself and thrive on new adventures but my nature as a mother is to err on the side of caution.

So, what's the deal? Why do children feel the need to ask such an annoying question over and over? If they had any brains in their heads, they'd leave us alone and just let us drive. After all, when we get there, we get there. On the other hand, why do we as parents, beat around the bush when it comes to answering? If we were smart, we would calculate the miles on a GPS and give them an ETA. Surely this would stop the unnecessary badgering.

I've tried both ways and believe me, none of it works. No matter how vague or precise the answer, we still hear the questioning again and again. Kids have a kind of radar in their heads, constantly looking for a beacon from you to locate everything from the flight plan to when the plane will land and we are their air traffic control tower.

Not much has changed since I was that kid in the back seat of my dad and mom's 1971 Ford Country Squire station wagon. I've been asking Jesus the very same question. I have radar in my heart and I'm constantly looking for direction from my Strong Tower. I feel like my life is far from over with many more miles to travel but are we there yet?

What are your thoughts?
Cyberpsalmist - Chrissy Larson