Do I have a stalker???

Building up to main story:

Many of y'all know that I went to Auburn a couple of months ago seeking solidarity and time to my self along with time spent with Lily and Gracie, right?? Well, Lauren and Samantha (Becky - Uncle Jerry's daughters kids) were there also. Lauren and Samantha went to go see a psychiatrist (in Opelika - near Auburn) due to family issues up where they live so, I went along. There I met this guy (Aunt Judy told me later that I should not of talked to him cause he has a sexual addiction ... hence the reason why he was at the psychiatrist office) and we struck up a conversation. Told him where I live (which I should not have done) and he asked if my cousins were my kids and I said no (which I should not of done) and told him my name (which I really should not have done) and so forth.

Present times: I went to school this afternoon to pick up some math that I can work on while I am on my way to Texas. I was trying to go inside and this car pulled up and I heard someone say "Hey" I turn around. The conversation went something like this:

Boy: Weren't you in Opelika? You were with your daughters or nieces or cousins or something like that, weren't you? Didn't I see you there?

Me: Noooooooo, not me (at this point, I knew who it was. It was the guy that Aunt Judy told me who had a sexual addiction. I decide to play it cool :) )

Boy: Well, I know you from somewhere.

Me: Nope, never seen you before!

I get back in the car after going to the classroom and asked Mom if she saw the whole thing. She said no. I asked Mom if she remembered me telling her about the accident in Opelika and she said yes and as I told her what happened and she started laughing. I told her that I was going to call Aunt Judy and tell her. I called Aunt Judy and she did not laugh. If she did I did not hear it. So, I ask you:

DO I HAVE A STALKER NOW???

A Personal Ad

Momma bought me a new Southern Linc phone the other day and I have been playing with it.

My roommate turned me on to a game called "Mad Lib" Its a app) and Jessica would play it with the boy she was babysitting and me. I got the it (it was free) on my phone and I played it just a while ago, and I just had to post what it said!!

Anyway, this is what it said:

"If you like colorful walks on the mall , wonderful country , and dinners at chinese restaurants, I'm the mother for you. My favorite father is Katherine , and my ideal guy is angry and modest, though if you like to run, that's even better. Me? 5 feet, 25 inches tall, beautiful hair, and a nice tongue . If you are upset , please don't reply. 555-8394"

My Brother

As many of you know, my brother was diagnosed with CML back in February of 2010. CML is = Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. My brother has been doing really well the past year and a half. In fact, his WBC (white blood cell count) has been less than 5%! Recently, they tested him and his WBC was at 25% and then they tested him again (even more recently) and his WBC is at 39% now.

My Dad, Mom and I are going to see my brother next week end so, I will write more when I know more then.

Here is the first entry that I wrote about my brother while I was in Texas in 2010.

Courting Customs in America

You know, it makes sense that I would find my "Courting Customs in America" book just when I am fixing to move back home one week from yesterday!! So, I may be posting some of that book again!! I wonder if I can repost some of the posts that I have already done since it has been a long time (over 6 months) since I posted any of it ..... Plus, many of my readers that I have on my blog now were not readers on my blog then .....

I miss Marc!!

Well, the truth is out!! I cried myself to sleep last night!! This is not the first time though. I cried the night before last night. I was remembering all the good times we had together. We rode horses, worked on the bull dozier (before a date), worked on fence and we just laughed and talked! All these memories came flooding back! I just lost it and cried myself to sleep.

I asked Jessica this morning if she heard me and she said no. Then she asked "Why do you keep asking me that questions? I mean, its almost like you want me to notice." I said "No, its not tat I want you to notice its just that I was hopping that I was not bothering you" She said "Oh, ok"

I've been listening to a song lately that has really helped me when I am down! The person who sings it is Laura Story. I've heard this song a few times on the local christian radio station.

Here is the song:


We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Mary Beth Miller ` One Sick Little Girl

A good friend of mine, Mark Miller and his wife Stacee are in Birmingham at UAB with their young daughter, Mary Beth. Mary Beth has been moved to Level 1 priority on the Transplant List and will not be coming home without a heart transplant.

Mark and Stacee’s only prayer is that she holds on until she gets the transplant.

Please keep Mark and his family in your prayers. It is moments like this that we should all realize that many of our problems are really just not that significant!!

Marc

Marc and I are not in a relationship anymore! Its ok! Dont be sad!! Dont say that you are sorry for me!! I dont feel that way!! We are still good friends and I feel so blessed to have him as such.

I'm sure that it will hit me tomorrow but we (Marcc and I) came to this decision together!! Pray for me as I face everyone at church tomorrow night!!

Love y'all!!!

The Original Un-edited Post for LP's Blog

Hi! My name is Kate Kirkland and I am a volunteer here at Landmark Park.

I have been volunteering since 2004 to the present day.

When I first started volunteering, I helped with the washing of the clothes. I demonstrated how people would have washed clothes during the turn of the century. I would build the fire, bring the water almost to a boil then I would put the clothes in the big, massive cast iron kettle (that is always behind the Waddell House) and put lye soap in there. To get all the “stains” out of the clothes, I would use a stick (that I used to stir with) and I would move the clothes to a wooden stump and start to beat them! One gentlemen who knew me well said that I must have been mad at my brother that day because I was beating the clothes so hard! J If the “stains” did not come out, I would put them back in the almost boiling water

In my humble opinion, I don’t know how they washed with Lye soap b/c it felt so greasy to me …..

Then after a few years, I tried my hand at the syrup tasting table. Well, I got bored really easily! I’m a people person and not very many people would come by there and I love people and want to be around them.

After the washing demonstration and the syrup tasting table, I feel like I have found my calling!! It is with playing my violin with a bunch of dulcimer players!! They so graciously allowed me to play with them. I say graciously because I am not good by any stretch of the imagination. I am not a concert violinist!! The dulcimer players have what they call a “Jam Session” every 1^st Saturday of every month. I try to go when I can! The session is for non-experienced or experienced dulcimer players (or in my case, violin players)!!

The Origianl Unedited Post for LP's Blog

Hi! My name is Kate Kirkland and I am a volunteer here at Landmark Park.

I have been volunteering since 2004 to the present day.

When I first started volunteering, I helped with the washing of the clothes. I demonstrated how people would have washed clothes during the turn of the century. I would build the fire, bring the water almost to a boil then I would put the clothes in the big, massive cast iron kettle (that is always behind the Waddell House) and put lye soap in there. To get all the “stains” out of the clothes, I would use a stick (that I used to stir with) and I would move the clothes to a wooden stump and start to beat them! One gentlemen who knew me well said that I must have been mad at my brother that day because I was beating the clothes so hard! J If the “stains” did not come out, I would put them back in the almost boiling water

In my humble opinion, I don’t know how they washed with Lye soap b/c it felt so greasy to me …..

Then after a few years, I tried my hand at the syrup tasting table. Well, I got bored really easily! I’m a people person and not very many people would come by there and I love people and want to be around them.

After the washing demonstration and the syrup tasting table, I feel like I have found my calling!! It is with playing my violin with a bunch of dulcimer players!! They so graciously allowed me to play with them. I say graciously because I am not good by any stretch of the imagination. I am not a concert violinist!! The dulcimer players have what they call a “Jam Session” every 1^st Saturday of every month. I try to go when I can! The session is for non-experienced or experienced dulcimer players (or in my case, violin players)!!

The Adventures of a Farmers Daughter

Tues. - Thurs.: I had been having pains but I was hoping that it would go away. It didn't so Thursday night I called mom from school (cause I left my phone at the apartment) and I told Momma what was going on and she told me to come home after school. So, I got done with school and came back to the apartment and got my stuff and left for home. I got to home at 10:30pm

Thursday: Lia learns to drive ~ Lia (my niece who is visiting from N.C.) and I went "Gator Riding". No, we did not ride on actual gators. We rode the gator (ATV) in a circle in a field beside our house. She is getting to be a very good driver. The rest of the day was spent at home.

Friday: Well, the origianl plan was to go to Landmark Park at noon but, that did not work. I had a docs appointment in Headland in the morning and I did not get done with that until near about lunch. Momma called me and told me to call her. I was at check out and she texted me and told me to call her. I was heading outta the docs office (to the drugstore next door) and she called me and told me that she was having issues with the truck and that she needed me to come and get Lia so that we can go to Landmark Park. Then, Mom said to disregard that and then on my way back to the drugstore she called me to come and get her and Lia at a nearby church that she stopped at. I went to a lcal fast food joint and got some lunch for the 3 of us. The towing people came and got the truck (we think it has transmission issues), I took Mom home and then,, Lia and I went to Landmark Park. By the time we got there it was 2:00.

After Landmark Park, Lia and I went to my apartment. I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher then left. Then Lia and I went by a convenience store and got her some cotton candy and off we went to Marc's house to look at the new horses that he has. Lia loved the Belgian horse. Then we arrived home about 5:00.

Saturday: I got up late. Lia and Popi Tom (Dad) went to Landmark Park for a rapture show. She learned much. I stayed inside all day. I still was not feel all that great and still dont. Can't wait to see what is going on in my body.

Praise You In The Storm

Lord, you know what storm I am going through right now. I just ask that you please help me weather whatever may come my way, God! You can help me and through you, I will get through this! Help me, Father! In your name I pray,
A-men


I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say, Amen and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands
And praise the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry, You raised me up again
But my strength is almost gone
How can I carry on if I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as You mercy falls I raise my hands
And praise the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Tales from a Volunteer (Writing for LP's Blog)

Landmark Park welcomes volunteer Kate Kirkland as a guest blogger to share some of her experiences.

Hi! My name is Kate Kirkland and I am a volunteer at Landmark Park. I have been volunteering since 2004.

One of the first tasks I was given when I started volunteering was to help demonstrate washing clothes the old fashioned way. In the 1890s, women would build a fire and bring water almost to a boil. Then, the clothes would go into the massive cast iron kettle with lye soap. To get all the stains out of the clothes, I would move the clothes to a wooden stump and start to beat them with a stick, the same stick that was used to stir the pot. One gentlemen commented that I must have been mad at my brother that day because I was beating the clothes so hard! If the stains did not come out, I would put them back in the hot water. In my opinion, washing with lye soap was hard because it felt so greasy to me.

After the washing demonstration and a few other volunteering experiences, I feel like I have found my calling. I enjoy playing my violin with the Landmark Dulcimer club. They so graciously allow me to play with them, even though I am not a concert violinist by any stretch of the imagination. The dulcimer club has a Jam Session every first Saturday of every month at 1 p.m. in the Interpretive Center Classroom. I try to go as much as I can! The session is for both inexperienced and experienced dulcimer players (or in my case, violin players). The dulcimer is a stringed American folk instrument and the club performs during some of the special events at Landmark Park, including Spring Farm Day, Victorian Christmas and Wiregrass Heritage Festival.

To join the volunteer experience at Landmark Park, call 334-794-3452. Not only does the park depend on volunteers, you may just learn something new while you're there!