The Soapbox

NErVoUS

2012-01-24T04:40:00.000-08:00

Spelling bee yesterday. It was excruciating. I wanted to yell or high five or something. But I couldn't. I had to cap all of my emotions up underneath a copacetic facade. It was horrible and wonderful every time my son stepped up to the podium.

Yesterday, was a beautiful "spring" day in January. I drove back to Terral Island with my sun roof open and remembered that to the God of time...a day is like a thousand years. Being home at Morrow Manor over the weekend....it's like I've never been gone.

Life at The Manor

2012-01-02T17:35:00.000-08:00

Brandi in the kitchen at Morrow Manor, 1976 ish.

A couple of years ago I decided to abandon this blog. I did. Though my blog and my life as I knew it was abandoned, I wasn't. My closing blog photo...me at Morrow Manor.

I have gone places that I have dreamed about.

All that has been dammed up...well, the blessings of Heaven have poured out - overflowing in abundance.

I have gone where the eagles fly.

I have not put down any roots.

I have found deliverance.

I have been redeemed.

Healing has come.

The Lord has spoken to me in the night.

The Lord has given me shepherds after His own heart who have led me in knowledge and understanding.

He has made my feet ready and guided them every step of the way.

There has been work to do, but I have not worked by my own strength, might, or power, but by God's spirit.

Wild At Heart

2011-11-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the best day of my life so far...

I know it doesn't look like anything special. I went into a field that I had not been into for 25 years. At one time, it was my most special after school riding spot. The gift: sweet potatoes everywhere.

It wasn't the only gift.

Just being there again was a gift.

When I returned to the Manor, it was packed with people. My Mom, Granny, Nannie Tanner, and even my cousins from Nashville. It was like old times for the first time in many years.

Since I've begun to reopen the Manor....it was the best day so far. Mom baked the sweet potatoes with our steak dinners after a hunt on the Bayou with JJ. I've still got my aim, but my guts have been filed and manicured by city living. Time to step it up.

November Orange

2011-11-07T03:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I picked the fresh satsumas and kumquats that my Father planted.

The satsumas were brought from Asia to New Spain by Jesuits. Groves started by Jesuits in the 18th century in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, have continued to the present day.

All About Satsumas
(2009-10-03)

Photo courtesy of marketumbrella.org
NEW ORLEANS, LA (WWNO) - Who would have thought that without the Society of Jesus, we'd probably not be enjoying satsumas in Greater New Orleans? Let me explain, when the Jesuits arrived here at the start of the 18th century, they also brought with them citrus plants from Asia - including the iconic, loose skinned, seedless tangerine from Satsuma in Japan us locals adore - the Satsuma. Jesuits planted orchards along the banks of the Mississippi River - a practice that continues in Plaquemines Parish (and near Jesuit Bend). With favorable spring and summer weather behind us, satsumas are arriving at farmers markets now. Word has it that it will be a long season with quality fruits. Visit WWNO.org to find Louisiana citrus at local farmers markets. © Copyright 2011, WWNO.

If you’ve never had Louisiana citrus before, it is sensational and a true eye opener, and totally worth the premium of having it shipped to you. Louisiana only produces a fraction of the produce that Florida and California does, but in my opinion the Satsumas that are grown in Louisiana are far superior to mandarins grown in those states and the clementines brought in from Spain. The Southern Louisiana climate is ideal for these fruits, which have a highly aromatic peel that is literally almost falling off in the first place and are absolutely brimming with sweet and tangy juice. For more click HERE.

About the Kumquat

Kumquats are often eaten raw. As the rind is sweet and the juicy centre is sour, the raw fruit is usually consumed either whole—to savour the contrast—or only the rind is eaten. The fruit is considered ripe when it reaches a yellowish-orange stage and has just shed the last tint of green.
Culinary uses include candying and kumquat preserves, marmalade, and jelly. Kumquats can also be sliced and added to salads. In recent years kumquats have gained popularity as a garnish for cocktail beverages, including the martini as a replacement for the more familiar olive. A kumquat liqueur mixes the fruit with vodka or other clear spirit. Kumquats are also being used by chefs to create a niche for their desserts and are common in European countries.

Potted kumquat trees at a kumquat liqueur distillery in Corfu.
The Cantonese often preserve kumquats in salt or sugar. A batch of the fruit is buried in dry salt inside a glass jar. Over time, all the juice from the fruit is diffused into the salt. The fruit in the jar becomes shrunken, wrinkled, and dark brown in colour, and the salt combines with the juice to become a dark brown brine. A few salted kumquats with a few teaspoons of the brine/juice may be mixed with hot water to make a remedy for sore throats. A jar of such preserved kumquats can last several years and still keep its taste. In the Philippines and Taiwan, kumquats are a popular addition to green tea and black tea, either hot or iced.

Yesterday, I picked from the citrus trees my Father planted. The last time I picked them we were together. I missed him very much, but the fruit from the trees was sweet and fragrant and so was the presence of the Lord underneath the overcast sky. I know I will see my Father again. May the Lord bless the fruit of this land and every hand that works it.

Moving Too Fast

2011-09-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

I think that .....I know that I am moving too fast. I long for routine and the rhythm of a boring life among friends. God has been very gracious to me in allowing me to flow and move and follow and return and start again. The road has been my close friend and when I finally land somewhere I think it to be my worst enemy. It is tough.

Thankful that God is my advocate.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

What's next God?

Candles

2011-08-18T07:58:00.001-07:00

My candles are running low. The wax is down to the bottom. I took them out of my Father's house when he died. I wish those candles would last forever. I'll never forget the scent. They blessed my traveling life this summer. It's time for new candles in my house.

I bought two new candles and left them behind in my country home. I am home.

Pitch Hitters Season Ends

2011-08-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Notes from Coach...

Bob - The trophy with both hands raised represents you conducting all our fans in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". You are clearly the best choir director on the team.

Eli - "Oh no! My parent's are playing softball. I can't bear to watch!" Eli, you're the number one team kid. Keep up the good work.

Brandi - The trophy with one hand out and up and the other behind the back for primping your hair. The hand out - checking your fingernails. All this is happening while playing outfield. Statistically the "Most Offensive Girl" on the team.

Loved being a part of this experience. Brought me back to 5th grade for just a bit. Thank you to Klay and Kenny. An experience I will always remember.

What Happens When You Marry a Frenchman, Volume 10

2011-07-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

In years past, I have written my now "world famous" blogpost entitled What Happens When You Marry a Frenchman. Nine volumes to be exact.
I actually thought that I might retire this post until the recent pictures came in from my sister's trip to Grand Isle with her family. The Hebert clan.
The Hebert's have become a part of my life and we share two prize possessions....my "little" baby doll sis, Ava, now all grown up AND our new doll, Sweet Annie.
I thought I had seen it all from the Hebert clan until my bro-in-law JJ found a solution to his phalangeal impairment following his run in with the lawnmower blades. That's nothing that an Hebert can't fix. "I'll just cover my broken, half-chopped off fingers with a prophylactic." Anything to keep the salt water and sand out.
JJ's solution worked....the boys AND Ava brought home a mess of fish, meanwhile, I loaded up on sun perch at Lake D'arbonne and canned some Ruston peaches hoping for a nice trade when the ship comes in.

And that does it for this year's Grand Isle trip and What Happens When You Marry a Frenchman.

To read Volume 9 of What Happens When You Marry a Frenchman posts....click HERE.

All Things

2011-05-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

All things I love....I've done them all this year.

Creative writing, journaling, poetry, even list making and organizing.
Warm bubble baths, walking, running, hiking, dancing, playing tennis, swimming, biking, rock climbing.

I know that I've really been moving when my hamstrings are sore from ballet, my butt's been kicked in Taekwondo, and I've got brush burned elbows and knees from sliding belly down into second base last Friday night, just before a regal curtsy inspired by the Royal Wedding earlier that day. I was safe!!

I love going to church, watching my little garden, my Christmas Cactus, my blackberry vine.
Writing letters, designing websites, creating custom paint colors--green walls that make an old bedroom new.
Singing, praying, meditating, hugs.

My senses are fully engaged when I watch my favorite old movies. I am still uplifted though I know every line.
If I can attend the theater, the symphony, or hear live music, I will.
Or just look through old photo albums, alone or with a loved one or even get out in nature.

Where there is a park or garden, just let me walk through it and devour the divine bouquet.
I can look up at the night sky and it's only right to smile back at it.
The sunrise or sunset is artistry, but even better when framed by the horizon of the ocean's waves.

In the last year, I've been able to listen to brooks, sounds near the lake, and the river's flow.
I've baked fresh bread, smelled the honeysuckle of home, and the ligustrum of the Emerald Coast.

I've cultivated a deep sense of calmness with the Lord's help in many troubled waters.
I've felt the wind on my face and really relished the gift.
I've tumbled through the snow and rested my bones on a grassy hill with a good book.
I've been cold from the sting of raindrops, drenched from splashing water tingling my skin.

I've witnessed a double rainbow emerge from the clouds and some places I've just "been".

Under my tree, one I planted years ago.
At the beach.
On a rock.
In nature.
By a stream or lake.
On a bench, my favorite hangout at Exit 571-A.

I missed being underneath a waterfall, but soaked in a hot tub.

I found wild walnuts and fresh berries on the top of a high mountain.
I ate fair food with old friends that I hadn't seen in many years and my fingers were sticky, but I didn't care.
I had long, deep talks on the phone in a setting with a breathtaking view under the stars and at sunrise and sunset while sitting quietly, calmly. This was such a sweet gift from the Lord in my life.

I've returned to right field, my left hand tucked inside the 5th grade baseball glove that still calls me by my maiden name. My Father broke it in with oil and taught me how to catch. Like an old friend, baseball brought me back to the days when I knew you. It was the last day we spoke. Like a young girl I laughed, but I have now borne the grief of a woman.

Were it not for all these things that I love, the passage of time might have robbed me of such joy. But in doing these things, pulling up out of the green water on skis and seeing the Tuscan rooftops, I remember the good times we had; but mostly, I have a sense that there is One who attends my bedside both day and night never leaving me alone. This very One has ordained all of my days and knows me to my innermost being. I have returned to the hope that by faith I will overcome this loss and life is flowing through my veins because I've just started to dream again.

I can't see what you see, Lord, but I'm ready to try. Ready to learn to live a new life....one that You have prepared. This is a step in the right direction, better than where I was before. My trust has returned, though I never stopped praising you. I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength.

Last year's blog, May 1, 2010.

Louisiana House of Representatives Honors Triston Knoll

2011-05-01T03:49:00.000-07:00

The Louisiana House of Representatives honors my friend Triston Knoll and expresses condolences to his family throughout this time of great loss.

To read the resolutions, click HERE.

Whitewashed Cottage

2011-04-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

In a whitewashed cottage by the sea
for maybe one or two or three
I won’t see you....it’ll just be me.

I know you couldn’t meet me there
I’ll sift through the sand; I’ll taste the salty air.
You won’t be there.

It’ll be okay, I half-heartedly say
I feel so far away.
Perhaps another day.

You’ll come back this way again
I missed seeing your brothers, the men
That carried you to your grave, half-past ten.

by Brandi Chambless
April 12, 2011

Triston Knoll

2011-04-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Note to self: ....in case I ever need to hear his voice again, click here.

The strongest friendships are built through the bonding experience that occurs when people "live life" together. They are deepened when one enters the dark shadows...not alone, but with a loyal companion who is willing to take the time to listen and help in spite of it all.

At 10, you have a brush-burned knee and a helping hand lifts you up off the playground, knocks the dust off of you and gets you back in the game.

At 20, you call in the night when your heart is broken over somebody you can't remember the name of anymore.

At 30, you exchange messages telling that you have a child now....you are married, you have a job, you are a real grown up.

At 40, you realize who you really are and life is ready to really begin....you reach out, unashamed of the person you've become but not quite sure of what God has planned.

You talk as adults, but really you are just children again for a few moments of the day. Then you hang up and fight the fights again to break through life's struggles.

You thank God for a loyal friend who was willing to walk with you through the darkest places you've ever been. You realize that life is precious. I look at your daughter and see your face.

In Loving Memory of my lifelong friend
Triston Kane Knoll
June 4, 1971 - April 11, 2011

Friends

2011-04-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

The strongest friendships are built through the bonding experience that occurs when people "live life" together. They are deepened when one enters the dark shadows...not alone, but with a loyal companion who is willing to take the time to listen and help in spite of it all.

At 10, you have a brush-burned knee and a helping hand lifts you up off the playground, knocks the dust off of you and gets you back in the game.

At 20, you call in the night when your heart is broken over somebody you can't remember the name of anymore.

At 30, you exchange messages telling that you have a child now....you are married, you have a job, you are a real grown up.

At 40, you realize who you really are and life is ready to really begin....you reach out, unashamed of the person you've become but not quite sure of what God has planned.

You talk as adults, but really you are just children again for a few moments of the day. Then you hang up and fight the fights again to break through life's struggles.

You thank God for a loyal friend who was willing to walk with you through the darkest places you've ever been. You realize that life is precious. I look at your daughter and see your face.

In Loving Memory of my lifelong friend
Triston Kane Knoll
June 4, 1971 - April 11, 2011

A Great Day

2011-04-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

:0) my heart ;

Insomnia

2011-04-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

Sleep would be good.

I keep reading Katie's posts....they touch my heart.

:)

Headed to a Wedding

2011-03-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

Katie and Shane will tie the knot in sixteen days and I am ready!

Spring Break is Over, Now What

2011-03-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

I can't sleep.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Three weeks left until I reunite with my long-time friends.

My mind is too busy for sleep.

Piranha Killer Sushi Selects Christian Community Action as Charity of Choice

2011-03-15T15:57:00.001-07:00

My Father Goes Home to Be with The Lord

2011-02-25T08:44:00.000-08:00

Journey On with The Soapbox

2011-02-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

Spent my snow day just thinking about all the fun we've had on The Soapbox web show and blog :)

To Branson With Love

2011-01-12T02:43:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had an opportunity to head for the hills when I traveled to Branson, MO for an extended vacation.

Wow! I hadn't been there in 15 years and how things have grown! This trout fishing sweet spot was a nature lover's dream. I picked wild berries and fresh black walnuts by day and went out on the town for a great family friendly show each night.

Of all the attractions, my picks were Kirby's Magic Show including music by The Platters and The Clay Cooper Show including some of the most hilarious and insane comedy I've seen by performing group Buckets and Boards.

I spent a little time at The College of the Ozarks and the Butterfly Museum (what would vacation be without a butterfly museum), and Silver Dollar City...hadn't been since I was a kid.

The best part of all was reuniting with my friends George and Sharla Shivers of Branson Country Getaway. At McFarlain's Restaurant, they placed a trick on us by seating us at the precarious "rising" table. Code word: "R". Half way through the meal, I knew something was afoot when George couldn't contain his laughter. My elbows where high in the air as I tried to cut through my pancakes - all the while - still chattering. Once the gig was up we, nor any of the other patrons, couldn't contain ourselves. What a trickster!

Did I mention the shopping? Well, the big sales were on and I was ready for them! I made shopping history in nearby Springfield, MO for the most items brought home for the least amount of dough.

This little big town has something for everyone. If you've never taken a trip to Branson, you should. It's a worthwhile destination that every family should visit.

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Will Lenny Show Up?

2011-01-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

FBC Lewisville student choir hits the streets again....will Lenny show up this time??

Waiting for the Snow To Fall

2011-01-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

Working on the webshow....waiting for the snow to fall. I'm ready to get into my kitchen and start stirring.

A Donut Changes Everything

2010-12-11T08:22:00.001-08:00

As sung by Todd Bell to the Prestonwood Baptist Church Choir before one of the weekend performances of The Gift of Christmas

To my friends in The Gift of Christmas today. Smile when you sing A Baby Changes Everything.

Sung to the tune of A Baby Changes Everything (Faith Hill)

Words by Brandi Chambless

Chocolate glazed, filled with cream
Tastes so good....it makes me wanna scream
A donut changes everything

Dunkin Donuts
On her mind
All her dreams of all the sprinkled kinds
A donut changes everything
A donut changes everything

The one she loves she's never touched
jelly filled, topped with nuts
A donut changes everything
A donut changes everything

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, to buy new jeans
Heaven knows, size 2 is no longer what it seems
A donut changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
Where will it go? there's no room
A donut changes everything
A donut changes everything

And she cries and she cries O she cries

Families all gather round …
Baby coos, Daddy's smiling now…
A donut changes everything

Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!

My whole life is turned around
I was thin but now I've found
A donut changes everything
A donut changes everything

Scott Seelye's Journey

2010-12-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to document the life journey of Scott Seelye...

http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/living/1247-the-strength-of-faith-and-community.html

Shakira 2009 Performance in Rockafeller Center Still Trumps Tree Lighting

2010-11-30T22:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight as I watched the tree lighting at Rockafeller Center, I still gave props to the star of last year's show, Shakira, with her performance of Santa Baby.

Sorry, but the Jessica Simpson I'll Be Home For Christmas duet with one of our troops paled. I hate giving negative reviews, so let this review be a positive one of a composed performance by Shakira last year.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the lovely performances of sweet Jackie Evancho and others, but I found myself in my office after the performance searching for Shakira's video. Yep. I was right. She was entertaining, had great control, poise, and charm on stage.

Antoine Dodson Video Received 18 Million Hits

2010-11-10T11:15:00.001-08:00

Killing The Blues

2010-11-01T04:39:00.000-07:00

Remembering the Texas Rangers' highs against the Yankees in contrast to how they are playing now....here's how I feel.

So Long Yankees

2010-10-23T04:51:00.000-07:00

Texas Rangers strike out Alex Rodriguez to clinch American League pennant and advance to World Series for first time in franchise history. Here's a tribute to the Yankees as they head home to hang their hats up for the season.

GLAR Chili Cookoff Sponsored by Kwik Kar of Flower Mound

2010-10-03T20:05:00.001-07:00

Video sponsored in part by Fidelity National Home Warranty. Coming soon....Haunts and Hounds, Shops of Highland Village. October 30, 2010. 3 - 6. Featuring The Shed.

Have the Mosque but Give Me Jesus

2010-09-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

I received this picture and email from a reader and wanted to post it as a follow up to the great Christmas Controversy of 2005 when my case in Memphis picked up some national media attention.

A Christian Nation cannot put up a Christmas scene of the baby Jesus in a public place, but Muslims can stop normal traffic every Friday afternoon by worshiping in the streets on Madison Avenue in New York City.

This is a picture of every Friday afternoon in several
locations throughout NYC where there are mosques with a large
number of Muslims that cannot fit into the mosque - They fill the
surrounding streets, facing east for a couple of hours between
about 2 & 4 p.m. - Besides this one at 42nd St & Madison Ave,
there is another, even larger group, at 94th St & 3rd Ave, etc.,
etc. - Also, I presume, you are aware of the dispute over building
another "high rise" Mosque a few blocks from "ground zero" -
With regard to that one, the "Imam" refuses to disclose where the
$110 million dollars to build it is coming from and there is a lawsuit
filed to force disclosure of that information -

I serve a risen Savior.

Just In Case

2010-09-24T04:15:00.000-07:00

A little over sixty years ago, the Lord God Almighty began to fearfully and wonderfully form the person of Debbie, someone who is near and dear to all of us. This beautiful, curly haired little tomboy was born near her home on Bayou Rouge, grew up to be the most unforgettable majorette in the history of Cottonport High School, and eventually became known as my Mama.

Though I wasn’t around to know her in these days, I love to hear stories about her getting ready to go out on the town wearing hand sewn clothing by Little Bernice and fulfilling her need to have straight hair by utilizing orange juice cans and Little Bernice’s household iron. This was a foreshadowing that Debbie would become The Mother of Invention. There is not a household or wardrobe problem that Debbie cannot solve. She is by far the world’s greatest human being at functional living that I have ever encountered. After praying for years that God would send her a straight-haired girl, he did, and she spent the first thirty years of my young life giving me Lilt perm and hot rolling my straight hair. “Why couldn’t I have my Mama’s curls?” I cried out to God. But somehow in God’s mysterious way, he answered Debbie’s prayer thirty years later and my hair began to curl when straight hair was back in vogue and my Mama was inwardly entertained upon the discovery that I spent $120 on a flat iron. That Debbie! All her Lilt Perms had finally worked!

If I haven’t mentioned it by now, I should mention that Debbie is The Queen of Precaution. Her three favorite words besides “you need to” are “just in case”. What I mean by that is this: It would not be uncommon during one of her visits to my house to say, “Do you have a pair of rubber boots?”....”If you do then I’ll place a piece of cardboard over the puddle in front of the woodpile and then we’ll be able to get the wood just in case a cold front moves in and we need to build a fire.” Debbie could be in the dang Boy Scouts because her internal motto is always be prepared. Heaven forbid that someone should ever step out of bed and the coffee not be ready to go with the push of a button.

Besides being The Mother of Invention and The Queen of Precaution, Debbie is also The Task Master. This is just a nice way of saying she is inwardly (and outwardly) a control freak. Saying “Debbie is not a control freak, she’s just in charge of giving helpful suggestions to everyone” is like saying “I don’t eat sweets, I just prefer potatoes.” They are both sugar, people!

If you want something done, call Debbie. She is a make it happen kind of person. If you don’t want something done....you might not want to call Debbie. Whenever she’s around, there are no stones left unturned. In order for Debbie to sleep at night, every thought, action item, or bodily function MUST be processed before 9 PM when her head hits the pillow. Even if it means peeling shrimp until your fingers bleed. WARNING: DO NOT CALL AFTER 9 PM!!!!....I beg you.

Debbie The Ruler. While this terminology may be readily mistaken for more of the “control freak Debbie”, it is more closely related to the idea that she is the straight and narrow. Debbie walks the line. Except where idiot bosses are concerned. In her old age and hormone-deficient state, she at times, has been known to rebel by rolling her eyes or simply putting her foot down. Another subconsciously-used tactic that signals rebellious mode to the average onlooker is the very patronizing and placatingly annoying over-pronunciation of words supported by a terse, overly-calm, demeanor accented by impeccable diction. Otherwise, she is a no nonsense Mamou Incarnate (Winnie St. Martin Riche’) with a touch of MaMa’s (Francis Dubroc Thevenot) jovial warmth.

So if my Mama Debbie is all of these creatures, Debbie The Ruler, Mamou Incarnate, Task Master, Queen of Precaution, and Mother of Invention what makes her special to me and to me alone?

For starters, her beautiful brown eyes were the first eyes that saw my eyes. Her laugh was the first laugh I knew and the first smile to return a smile to mine. But that is merely the beginning of a lifetime of love that my Mama Debbie has given to me. Without Debbie the Task Master I would have never had the freedom to become the thinker and artist God has given me over to be, for Mama provided the framework I needed to expose the seeds God planted deep inside me when he knit my heart together in her womb.

Debbie The Ruler is the person who instilled a desire to choose a path of goodness and Godliness in life. Her Mother of Invention example has cultivated many solutions throughout the years to problems that would have otherwise been far too costly to solve. And Debbie the Queen of Precaution just flat out haunts me as I hear her voice in mine every time I tell Eli, “Oh, son, better bring your umbrella to school just in case it rains.”

There is no one who takes care of an earache like my Mama. No one has her strong nails to scratch your back--not because it itches, but just because you need some Mama love. Even though she swears by Ragu, there is no spaghetti on earth that is like hers. Her round steak is like manna from Heaven and if you need any other recipes she will tell you to look for them in her Bible, the Bunkie General Cookbook, Page 32, Paragraph 3, Line 16.

Some of my earliest memories of my Mama include the two of us sitting at the piano and her playing and singing, before I knew how to play. These times still impact my life and my habits to this day, as I have lived many years far away from home, some days just washing the dishes in my sink waiting for the next time her car would ever pull into my driveway.

Every now and then, when my house is completely clean from top to bottom, I will fluff my final throw pillow and curl up on the sofa with a cup of coffee, a good book, or a football game. That is when I can close my eyes and feel my Mama with me, for I know she is doing the very same thing. The smells from the pots on my stove coupled with the smell of cleanliness trick my senses into experiencing her presence and I know that she is not only with me, but she is in me.

Just in case you ever need to hear it when we are far apart.....I love you Mom. Mama. Debbie. Deebie and Little Debbie. You are The World’s Best Mom for mothering a stubborn thunderhorse, a Duke of Hazzard, and an ornary morning riser. God sent you three of the most varied personalities in his blueprint collection and you are still keeping your eyes on Him as you run this race.

May God give you many more years to come....Blessings on your 60th birthday!!!!

Yours Truly,

Thunderhorse

Grief Journey Redeemed

2010-09-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

This morning, early, before the sun comes up, I catch up on my reading. My dear sister and friend Katie Cook's grief journey redeemed - I read it in her blog.

Months of writing, praying, struggling, working through it. Then little to no words at all.

In memory of Adam Snyder.

I cannot wait to laugh with her again and see her in a wedding dress next spring. God is faithful. He is good.

I have watched God work in Katie's life and it is awesome to see this great work.

Blessings to Katie and Shane....

Google Announces Gmail Priority Inbox Feature

2010-09-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

In addition to Boxbe.com to prevent email overload, I am now going to be using Gmail's new feature, Priority Inbox. Another great Google product hits a home run!

A Quick Visit With Congressman Burgess

2010-09-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Congressman Michael Burgess shows up at Greater Lewisville Association of Realtors today.

Best Football Food Contest

2010-08-25T05:09:00.000-07:00

Fan The Soapbox and post your favorite football food picture to win my Best Football Food Contest prize. DFW readers will win $200 housecleaning from Buckets and Bows and $50 from Cloud 9 Salon.

I hope you enjoy this cooking show. Don't tell Mama...

Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors

2010-08-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Local Guy Brings Main Street To Wall Street

2010-08-09T03:55:00.000-07:00

In 1988, Jeff Price sat in an economics class at Lewisville High School. Little did he know that the passion he developed for business in his senior year at LHS would impact the future course of his life in such a great way.

Price who grew up as a “PK”, the universal nickname for “Pastor’s Kid”, is the son of the late Rev. Bobby Price and wife Judy, who still resides in Lewisville.

“My parents never had money in the stock market and therefore I didn’t grow up knowing about money,” said Price.

To continue reading, click here.

Real Estate Firm Holds Cookout for PediPlace

2010-08-09T03:43:00.000-07:00

Victor Myers Real Estate recently held a donation-only cookout benefiting PediPlace at a model home on Mulholland Drive in Highland Village with about 100 people in attendance.

True to the company’s vision of investing in the lives of people by giving time, skills, and financial support to social and humanitarian efforts on a global level, the real estate brokerage raised $2597, the equivalent of 175 children’s wellness visits, to present to the local non-profit organization that provides high quality healthcare services to uninsured children.

President/Broker Bryan Hutchinson selected PediPlace as a designated charity of Victor Myers Real Estate after hearing Executive Director Jasmine Holmstrup speak at a recent luncheon.

To continue reading, click here.

Real Estate Community: Got Creative?

2010-08-05T03:39:00.000-07:00

Recently, I visited with my friend J. Michael Brown at Lightning Bear Productions Downtown Dallas in his amazing studio. Here's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Brandi Tracks Down Syesha in Dallas

2010-07-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

I get the exclusive interview with Syesha Mercado, downtown Dallas last week, after her performance in DREAMGIRLS. Syesha is starring as Deena Jones on the US National tour of the production sponsored by AMBI Skincare, a Johnson and Johnson line for women with deep skin color and beauty, of course!

To read my review in the Cross Timbers Gazette, click here.

Tech Divas Workshop

2010-06-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Caught on video (oops)....the Tech Divas Workshop hosted by Brandi Chambless and Ramona Thompson, Turner's Pizza Depot, Flower Mound, Texas.

Georgia On My Mind

2010-06-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

December 2007

Tonight was a sweet reunion with friends as I sat at Emily (Cook) and Randall's rehearsal dinner. I had the honor of standing in for the maid of honor, Emily's sister Katie.

Sadly, Katie's special friend Adam was KIA in last week. He died a soldier, a hero.

The last thing Adam wrote to Katie before departing for his final mission was a comment about her new haircut, "Do all the men of the universe a favor and wear your hair like that for the rest of your life."

To continue reading, click here.

I last saw my friends at Emily's wedding. I was so blessed to hear the news of my dear friend and U.S. Soldier Katie Cook...engaged...to Shane Grimsley. Georgia on my mind....love you Kate.

The Blogfree Life

2010-05-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

So my blog has ended. What to do, what to do. There's been plenty. I've spawned several more blogs, published some of my writings, taken on some new marketplaces and so much more.

I started this blog with the intent of blogging about why we shouldn't be blogging so much, so after three months of little blogging here at The Soapbox, I think it's kinda funny that I'm blogging about being blogfree.

Sometimes I have found myself visiting the places I dream about while other times I'm too busy to dream. Tonight I watched the movie Letters To God and it ended with the verse of scripture that cut to my heart: 2 Corinthians 3:3, You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

I thought that was quite an appropriate verse for this season of my life, as reflected in my recent writings, I know God is the ultimate author of my life and of yours, Dear Reader. There is so much more of the story He wants to tell. Let the name of the Lord be praised.

More Than A Song

2010-02-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

I began this blog, The Soapbox, three years ago in February 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee. Since that time I have seen some 92,949 visitors and 147,092 page views from all over the world. To my surprise, people took note of my writings about everyday life.

I believe the time has come to close this chapter of my life and say goodbye in spite of my readership who has been so kind to me when there was only a very vague blueprint of a church family over the last few years. I know that God is preparing my heart for some new things and I am willing to be willing to lay down all the Isaacs of my life, though not without much wrestling and grief.

I do not know if I will ever open this door again, but for now it is the only path I must take as I release from my hand another something that God placed within my care. My Granny always says that "A lady always knows when it's time to leave" and that time has come for me.

I will covet your prayers as I spend some quiet time in the heart of worship. To those who have journeyed with me I am forever grateful for having such wonderful companions. The valleys have been vast, but the mountaintops of these last three years have been some of the greatest heights I have ever known. I have never stopped clinging to the Rock of my life, Jesus Christ, Who is my Faithful and True Redeemer. When my singing was hushed and my listening ears were attentive, my Father allowed me to dance while in waiting, with an anticipation of the lifestory the author of the universe writes on my behalf according to His good will and pleasure.

May the Lord richly bless you and make His face to shine upon you until we meet again. May He hold you in the hollow of His hand. Mizpah.

Rosewood Center For Family Arts

2010-01-30T15:26:00.000-08:00

Picture Day

2010-01-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

A Perfectly Beautiful....Disaster

2010-01-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

Jekyll & Hyde is a Broadway musical based on the novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The show opened on Broadway on April 28, 1997. The show ran for 1,543 regular performances, closing on January 7, 2001 starring David Hasselhoff (though not initially) and is the longest-running show in the history of the Plymouth Theatre.

Despite the long run, the musical lost money in the end: more than $1.5 million, and lacked stellar reviews.

During a visit to New York in the late 90's, it was my privilege to meet Linda Eder backstage at Jekyll and Hyde the Musical. The original "Lucy", Linda was gracious enough to grant me a visit after delivering an award-winning performance that left the audience with thunderous applause, gasps, and tears at her character's untimely death. She is an amazing actress and powerful vocalist who has the ability to make you feel her every emotion.

Below is her interpretation of A New Life composed by Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn sung by the character of Lucy just following a telegram delivery from Jekyll. "My Dear Ms. Lucy, I regret more than I can ever express that my private misfortunes prevent me from ever seeing you again. I have found in you a tender and loving companion. I hope you will accept the enclosed as a small repayment for the lesson you have taught me. Leave this place, I beg you, and begin again secure in the knowledge that I shall never forget you. Henry Jekyll."

Unfortunately, the song A New Life would be Lucy's swansong, as she does not heed Jekyll's warning with expediency and moments later meets her death at the hands of his alter ego Edward Hyde. Her senseless death might have been avoided had it not been for Lucy's strong desire for love, acceptance, and identity in what she found to be good, but ultimately led to her own demise.

I believe the truth of the lesson that Lucy taught Jekyll lies in the lyrics to the J & H song Facade. Lucy was the first person Henry had ever known who did not live behind the pedigreed mask this world tries to portray as normal.

In addition, Act one opens with Jekyll saying "In each of us there are two natures. If this primitive duality of man: good and evil, could be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that is unbearable. It is the curse of mankind that these polar twins should be constantly struggling." For the first time, Jekyll was confronted with goodness that was not a part of the upper crust society longed for by most when he encountered Lucy's authenticity. She was real to him, though even if it were not for his lab experiments gone bad, his high society social mores would have ultimately prevented him from associating with the Lucys of this world. His philosophy above was a foreshadowing that was challenged when through Lucy he recognized that goodness can be redeemed from the darker shadows of this world, but that his silver spoon lifestyle did not salvage him from his own inner decay.

As Lucy sings about her new life, she longs for a new heart and something to convince her to renew hope; she longs for "half a chance in life to find a new part, just a simple role that I can play" that she would rather play the part of anybody than to continue to go through life not knowing who she is inside.

There is a great Israel Houghton song I Know Who I Am that speaks to identity in Jesus Christ, the only one who will never abandon us, instead He is the lifter of our heads. I think there are alot of Lucys in this world who need to hear the message of this song, though we as artists LOVE the good tragedy of this Jekyll and Hyde story!

For more wallowing in this good tragedy (if there is even such a thing....oh wait - I think I called this weeks ago when I wrote of the Beautiful Disaster, yes) click here to view Act 2, Scene 5 (Lucy's death) played by Coleen Sexton and David Hasselhoff as Edward Hyde. Note that the scene following Ms. Sexton's delivery of A New Life may be disturbing. Drama begins at 3:50 to skip past song.

Mrs. Bullard Jones

2010-01-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

While in Baton Rouge, my husband runs into two spiritual giants and influences on our lives as he attends a conference. To read more about my wonderful friend, Barbara "Sunnye" Jones, click here. She has impacted my life for the better. Sunnye used to be a featured singer at the Louisiana Baptist Convention and many other places years ago. I was tickled by the printed programs I saw in the archives once, because the wives did not bear first names. She was known simply as "Mrs. Bullard Jones".

Her poem, Becoming is one I have committed to memory, yet never is far from either my Brown Bible, my piano bench, and my heart. I wrote a song in 2002 using these words, and after having it arranged, I dedicated the song to Mrs. Reba Allen and it was my joy to present her with the written score. The song "I Feel God Changing Me" was sung at Mrs. Reba's funeral by Dana Lux.

Over the last several weeks, I was reminded of this song and we began to play it and record a rough version of it. It has really ministered to me and I have thought of how Sunnye's kingdom work lives on through her writings to this day.

To The Best Sister Ever

2010-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

To my Sweet Ava. Happy birthday my beloved one. You are missed. You are a Mommy this year and so good at it! I hope your day is a great one. Blessings to you, my young gray-haired sister.

See link to read more memories of Ava.

A Promise Fulfilled

2010-01-20T11:11:00.000-08:00

Day Three of the St. Joe Class of 1989 Reunion begins with a fast and furious journey across Avoyelles to the sleepy town of Plaucheville, where the graduates will be honored and prayed for as they return toward home. This after only a couple of hours of rest, I decided to pull it together very much against my own desires.

When I think about St. Joe, I always remember my French teacher Pierrette from the West Indies. I remember singing the Minuit Chretien in fifth grade dressed as an angel next to my little buddy Andy St. Romain--Two teachers' pets with great French diction and nice soprano voices! You never heard the more acccepted Cajun vernacular "Comment ca va?" from Pierrette, she was such a pristine lady it was always, "Comment allez vous?"

And I can't help but remember going to confession on a weekday before Friday Mass. Each class would line up ("single file line!"....if I had a dollar for every time I heard that phrase I'd be rich!) and walk to the sanctuary. Girls on one side, boys on the other once we entered the dark chapel. Father Jules Spriet of Dupont would be in one confessional and Monsignor Marcel Anderson would be in the other. There was always an unspoken procedural struggle that the boys managed to conquer, in that everyone wanted to give their confession to Monsignor Anderson since Father Spriet was almost deaf and would loudly repeat all your sins!

For instance, some poor soul would open the door where Father Spriet was waiting quietly on the other side of the screened window. As the door closed and the student's knees hit the kneeler, a little green light above the outer doorway turned to red. Unfortunately, confession went a little something like this:

(Keep in mind that the contents of this confession have been neutered down and altered to protect the actual participants, but the St. Joe Class of 1989 knows exactly what I'm talking about here.)

Student: Bless me Father for I have sinned, my last confession was two weeks ago. These are my sins.....I missed Mass last week.

Father Spriet: (In a very loud voice capable enough of being audible to himself and everyone else in the nave, responding with a thick French accent) You missed Mass last Sunday....why?

Student: Well, you see Father, the girls and I stayed out a little too late at Kyrle's and I didn't get home until long past my curfew, when I finally fell asleep....(so on and so on).

Father Spriet: Anything else?

Student: Well, yes Father. I ate hog head cheese on Good Friday. Sorry about that.

Father Spriet: (Loudly, repeating) You ate hog head cheese.....hmmmn. I see.

For your penance you will say an Act of Contrition, three Hail Marys, and an Our Father now go in peace and sin no more...Oh my God (I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, etc. etc.).

By the time the student exited Father Spriet's confessional, her face was as red as Brother Paul. Everyone would be snickering, especially the boys, except for the next person in line. Every now and again, the girls would manage to get Monsignor Anderson and the boys would have to endure the deaf zone. Such good memories after all these years in spite of the torture!

Well, my friends, the time has good to make good on my promise to return my organ keys to the place where my life in leading worship first began in 1985. This has become the laugh and much anticipated event of my close hometown friends and of my own heart as these keys have been one of only three tangible items that have survived a tumultuously mobile childhood and young adulthood. God proved His love to me over and over as I seemed to have had no place to lay my head at times on this crazy road of ministry, all the while, the organ keys tucked deep within my wallet, purses, safes, and jewelry boxes made every journey.

It was Brother Andre' Lucia (pictured on right) who first approached me about becoming the organist when I was freshman in high school at St. Joseph's School in Plaucheville, LA. At the age of thirteen, I said yes to planning worship and preparing the student body for any special music we felt would enhance our Friday Mass and other liturgical events. There was nothing like hearing hundreds of angelic voices of the uniformed children in Mater Dolorosa church each week. I still hold these people in my heart to this day.

Jason Lemoine on right.

Sheila Lemoine Aymond

So after our 1989 Class Reunion Mass I take the time to speak a few words to the faithful choir members who sing in the weekend choir, many of whom have been doing so since way before my time. Pictured here are Sue Lemoine, Lynette Ducote Lemoine, Carlos Smith (though he has his own identity he is the hubby of my St. Joe chemistry teacher Robin Smith), Mallory Coco, Cynthia Mayeaux, and Dianne Saucier.

I found it only fitting that also present were Alice Lemoine Plauche and Dot Lemoine Gaillard, two major influences in my walk as a worship leader. In addition, Mrs. Dot and Mrs. Dianne Saucier have both been playing the organ there for years. The only person who I wished was there was Mrs. Denise Scallan who was part of my growing up years at St. Joe.

So before God and all of these witnesses to my life who had been the first models of worship to me, I hung up my keys for the last time, Mrs. Dot nearby, just as she had been the very first time she showed me where to find them back in 1985.

Take a look at this brief clip of the communion song, directed by my friend and Julie Andrews clone Alice Lemoine Plauche. What moved me most about it was not killer vocals, or over the top talent, just simple humility and faithfulness that this same group has been singing here through the years and continues to do so. (Note that the Lemoine sisters JoAnn, Alice, Bonnie, Judy, Theresa and Marie have sung together all of their lives and have a signature sound that is not represented on this video since they are not all present, but recognizable to everyone in Avoyelles. Their daughters Kayla, Laura, Sarah, and Maria also sing with them. They are frequently requested to sing at special events with their pure lyrical tones. They have one brother in Baton Rouge, Buddy).

Spirit Song by Mater Dolorosa Choir

I will always remember St. Joseph's School and the fine people of Mater Dolorosa Church in Plaucheville who love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Though I'm not a young girl underneath a chapel veil anymore, my heart was moved at how the God of the ages is the One True Faithful Witness to our testimony. While I certainly have no regrets about the journey of my life, for His unseen hand has shown itself from time to time, it was very nice to worship in simplicity where the commercial marketplace does not drive the worship machine. I experienced the heart of worship in the people of Plaucheville that day.

Highlights of the St. Joe Class Reunion

2010-01-18T17:55:00.000-08:00

Day two of the St. Joe class reunion kicked off with a bus dropping us all off at the Cypress Room of Kyrle's in Mansura, LA. There was alot of jumping up and down and freaking out upon seeing familiar faces of old!

Brandi and Dorothy Taylor Rabalais. Dottie was my first college roommate and married my cousin Wayne Rabalais.

Brandi with Andy St. Romain and wife (of Fifth Ward...gasp!) Theresa Bringol St. Romain. Though Andy defected and married a Fifth Ward girl, it turns out that she is completely wonderful and in spite of our fierce rivalry, we St. Joe girls love our Theresa and Andy hasn't changed a bit. He's still a preppy clone of Alex Keaton from Family Ties and of course...my childhood sweetheart.

Brandi and Tammy Moreau Davis. Reuniting with another childhood friend and college roommate was awesome, especially in light of the fact that she is carrying her first child! We have alot of history playing basketball together and more. Tammy is one of the most gifted athletes ever to walk through the doors of St. Joe. Playing ball with her all those years made me a better athlete and person. Not only that, we chose our twenty year reunion to reveal a long-kept secret to my hubby Bob. Though I've cooked chicken cordon bleu for him all these years, the first time he ate it Tammy was the one who cooked it while I was taking a bubble bath. My only work was getting all dolled up and taking over at the last minute. Tammy and I were always a force to be reckoned with on the court, but mainly a deadly combination since I can get anybody to do anything and she can't so "no" to anything!

Here are the Brothers of the Holy Eucharist that still minister at St. Joseph's. Brother Anthony (Current Principal and Choir Director), Brother Paul (A.K.A. Tomato Face, sorry I had to, it's legend). He taught everyone in Plaucheville 3rd and 4th grade. And finally Brother Andre Lucia, F.S.E. (Principal in 1989). Pictured with us is one of my closest friends Eve Quirk who was telling the story of "how" we would pray before going out every weekend. Gotta love Catholic school!!!

Rabbit Stew

2010-01-17T16:16:00.000-08:00

Mater Dolorosa

2010-01-17T10:04:00.000-08:00

Good With the People, Great With the Pigs

2010-01-16T11:06:00.000-08:00

A trip to Avoyelles would not really "count" without an early morning trip to T-Jim's market in Cottonport, LA where I run into my old pal Jacques Moreau.
Jacques and I went to the Cottonport High School Homecoming and the St. Joseph's Homecoming together back in 1987. Here he is showing my son the ropes and explaining what it takes to do a real Cajun boucherie, as he is following in his Father's footsteps, the legendary T-Jim Moreau.

I never make a trip to Cottonport that doesn't spark memories of the old Crepe's Corner, later owned by Scotty Scott. Suddenly I look up and who is standing before me other than Scotty Scott himself, so I got a picture with these two Avoyelles legends (T-Jim and Scotty).

It is a great day in Avoyelles as I nest with my family and fresh sausage po-boys. The pork consumption is great during Saints football games. Incidentally, when I asked Mr. T-Jim about Jacques working in the store with him, he smiled and said, "He is a greater business man than I'll ever be with the people," then he winked and whispered, "but he'll never be as good as me with the pigs!"

Having been exposed to Cajun delicacies all my life, I am experienced enough to know that some people aren't cultured enough in the Acadian lifestyle to appreciate "little guts" or "greards". Serving them delicacies such as hog head cheese or boudin would be similar to offering pearls to swine. Better to just swallow it and smile than heap an insult on the gracious offering.

I find it funny that in scripture the pearls to swine passage of Matthew 7 is sandwiched (no pun intended) right in between "do not judge" and "ask and you shall receive". I'm coming to see how God can use the circumstances of life to free us from being judgmental toward others and to prepare us to receive all that he wants to place in our care if we will but trust his ways. What good is it to be good with the people and ignore the pigs, or the blemished and flawed people in our pathways, the blemished and flawed inner man behind the pedigreed masks of this world?

These are where my daydreams take me today while the smell of chocolate brownies is calling my name and the sound of the rain on my rooftop reminds me that this is nap weather. This is also nappy hair weather. But for now, my soul is still and I am at peace.

St. Joe Girls

2010-01-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

Together again

Welcome To Texas Best

2010-01-15T11:33:00.001-08:00

Traditional Tyler stop

A Living Prayer, A Little Road Music

2010-01-15T08:53:00.001-08:00

The Stripes That Can Never Be Earned

2010-01-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

May 20, 1995, Chambless Wedding, St. Joseph High School Classmates, Class of 1989

The place I'm going this weekend is the place I like to call home. It's a place where I'm going to see these people, the ones fighting for my bouquet. It's a place where you call to order someone flowers and as you try to give the address and explain to the florist the best route to get the flowers delivered, the florist says, "Oh, you mean Johnny's house? Why didn't you just say so." Just like that.

The place I call home is one where there is a vibrant spirit among the people. Laughter is the number one common attribute of the community there. People's people thrive there while anything to spark laughter is admired and loved. The people are jovial and flirtatious in general in Avoyelles. Here I am dancing with my Grandfather Tim (Alfred Cyril Riche'...God rest his soul) who could really cut a rug. Very few people could keep up with him. No one as well as my Grandmother Little Bernice or my Aunt Lynn. Based upon this picture, I'd say I'm a close third.

My class was a very tight knit group from kindergarten through twelfth grade in the private school we call St. Joe. I spent nearly every day of my life with Shannon Lemoine pictured here with me, as well as his first cousins Jared and Jay Lemoine. We were brothers and sisters all our lives. Here we are at the Louisiana BETA Convention having a grand time. I'm the one in the blue and white stripes.

Okay, so some things have improved since then I would say. To begin with, I have an updated sense of fashion. Let me just say that having worn a uniform until the age of seventeen, I never knew that any colors existed other than Navy blue and white. Go St. Joe!

My shoes...a choice of black and white saddle oxfords or burgundy penny loafers always with a copper penny neatly in tact. Pedicures hadn't been invented yet. Sandles were ancient Roman attire and boots were for cowboys. When I went away to college I had one pair of Girbaud jeans, the only pair of jeans I ever owned from 1985 to 1989. Boy did I have some groundwork though I had more evening gowns than t-shirts!

St. Joe Seniors Basketball Banquet 1989 (Wearing blue and white stripes, above)

Coach Matt Deshotel and Brandi, Ten year class reunion 1999 (Wearing blue and white stripes) When I wasn't in my Navy uniform, I was wearing my other uniform. Number 34. Coach Matt Deshotel spent more hours with us than most of our teachers. I've been yelled at by this man alot. The most famous of all the quotes that stands out in my mind...."You're damn lucky you made that young lady!" He knew how to slam doors and kick lockers better than anyone I know, yet somehow he had a huge impact on my life for the better. We accidentally put him in a wheelchair when he scrimmaged with us my freshman year, but he eventually recovered. I guess he learned his lesson that time.

Seriously, we all loved Mr. Matt. Sure, he didn't let us sneak out of the windows to go to the Buy-Rite during school hours like Mrs. Martha Lemoine did, but he whipped us all into shape. Speaking of Mrs. Martha, my best memory of her is the day Jared got her checkbook out of her purse and wrote a check for a million dollars. She was so laid back with such a rowdy bunch!

I would say that the greatest gift of my life is realizing every time I go "home", so to speak, that these sentiments are just a fraction of what I will realize when I go to the Heavenly Home my Father has waiting just for me. I won't be wearing blue and white stripes on that day, I'll be wearing the stripes of my Savior Jesus Christ, for it is by those stripes that I have been healed. There won't be any need for makeovers or do-overs, for the mouth of my Lord has spoken it, "It is finished," or as they would say in Avoyelles, "Ca, c'est fini!" This is of great comfort to me as I travel to my earthly home once again and take a little "state of the union" of my life, knowing full well that while moths and rust have long ago destroyed trophies from twenty years ago, I myself am a trophy of God's grace in His eyes and a day is coming soon when I will reach for my Crown Incorruptible. Hallelujah! Let the name of the Lord be praised!.

In Case of Emergency: Use Chocolate

2010-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, in spite of my love of chick flicks, one of my favorite movies is the 1998 thriller The Negotiator starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey.

Samuel L. Jackson stars as Danny Roman, your typical "good cop": he upholds justice, protects the innocent, and is the best negotiator on the force, even risking his own life to save people.

It's not long before he is framed for the murder of his partner and friend, who had confided in him about a top-secret case. Apparently other cops on the force were involved in a money-laundering scheme, and he has been set up to look like the guilty party.

Before he can be arrested, Jackson takes his police chief, whom he suspects is in on the money laundering deal, hostage. The chief's secretary and two other guys are also held hostage, and now Jackson is a negotiator negotiating. The new negotiator, brought in to negotiate with him, is Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey). (To read more, click here.)

Danny Roman specifically requested Sabian because he was from another side of the city, and Roman felt he needed someone who could be trusted to get him out of his current situation alive. A trust that defies protocol is formed between Roman and Sabian.

Have you ever thought about what makes a good crisis intervention negotiator? Take a look:

“The most successful attributes for a crisis negotiator are the ability to
demonstrate empathy, utilize strong communication skills, and the
need to have patience. A crisis negotiator can learn and practice good
communication skills, but the other attributes are a function of the
personality. Veteran officers and a number of female officers may have
the personality traits that would be required of a successful negotiator.”
(Major R. Laprel, Massachusetts State Police; personal communication, June 01, 2006).

The Negotiator movie is like crisis intervention on speed, however, since both of the main characters are highly trained experts in the art of winning hostages and saving lives. They both know all the tricks of the trade, so there is time when an outward lack of empathy may in turn be a challenge of the male ego among two peers; however, I do find moments throughout the movie in which mutual trust is gained from both men in order to find truth.

I want you to imagine a man on the ledge, if you will, and a negotiator standing on the ground shouting consequences upward into earshot of the man in order to remind him of the impending doom. "You know, if you jump, you do realize that your body will splatter all over the concrete--this, on national television and you will be a disgrace to your family for years to come, right?" This potential consequence does not move the man's will in the least, for it is something he already knows in his head, but his heart supersedes truth in this very irrational moment.

All at once, a man with a kinder voice steps out on that ledge with the conflicted soul. We've seen it a million times in the movies. "Hi, Sam. My name is John. I'm going to be here with you tonight. Sam it's awful cold out here, what do you say we step inside and have some hot chocolate where we can talk this out?"

Sam refuses.

"Okay, well, I'll stay out here as long as you need to. In fact, you're doing good Sam. I want you to even think about taking one step a little closer to the window with me, Sam. Things seem a little distorted from way up here. We need to get into your room so we can talk this problem through. It's gonna be okay. That's good Sam. We are going to take one more step."

Sam closes his eyes. "I can't do it. I can't. I won't."

Before long, the baby steps that John has inspired in Sam have caused him to move as near to the window as he can be without actually going inside. There's something about John that Sam wants to please, though he doesn't know quite what.

You see, it takes a unique personality to be a "John" to the hurting soul, while still aligning the flesh with the Spirit. When it comes to a friend in trouble, what kind of crisis intervention negotiator are you? Are you an interrogator? A blemish-hater? A truth-spouter? A hammer? (Gosh, I hope not a hammer). Or are you more like John, possessing a quality that lays out truth and inspires hope in the darkness? What is it about John that causes Sam to get into the window?

Those who can speak truth into someone's life while waiting patiently with him to move toward the window are few and far between. Finally, Sam's baby steps back into the safe world he knows allow John to stand by his side in a more stable dwelling.

There's beauty in being this kind of friend to someone. Every screenplay with a good ending to a hostage situation shows freeing of the hostages or handing over of a weapon, but mainly the will being surrendered in some form or fashion...the troubled soul chooses life over death. This is the kind of friend I long to be as I thank God for those who would dare step out on that ledge with me.

My Best Holiday Reads

2010-01-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

Here we are with another holiday weekend approaching and I find myself filing away some of my holiday reads from Christmas and New Years.

Here are some of my picks:

1. The Emancipator's Wife by Barbara Hambly, A Novel of Mary Todd Lincoln - My friend and fellow lover of historical fiction Amy Tillotson gave me this book and it was a real peek into the home life of Abraham Lincoln and his family. For instance....useless trivia: Robert Todd Lincoln, Abe and Mary's first child was present in 1881 at Garfield's assassination and in 1901 he happened to be among the crowd when McKinley was shot. Thereafter, he refused any social invitations to the White House or any other place in which the President of the United States was in the same room.

2. OK, what can I say? The book TrueFaced by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch was a cross between a pleasant read and a hatchet in the forehead. I'm still reeling. This book is more like an experience than a one time read. I've already gone through it twice, pensively, and it helped me to tap into God's power where sin is concerned. It's the kind of book you can't read without a pen in your hand. If I had to capture the quintessential meaning of the book in one sentence (Gosh, this is almost impossible, because it was so multi-faceted for me) it would lend itself to a perspective on grace and what Godliness is, with neither virtue being dependent upon our own individual effort toward more right behavior and less wrong behavior. This book speaks to the raw vulnerability of the saint who needs God to handle sin issues rather than depend upon a sin-management program to impose enough restrictions until a particular behavior is modified. I could go on, but do yourself a favor and order this book today to begin the journey into your eternal destiny.

3. "Will Grace Finally Win?" This is the subtitle of Bo's Cafe, a fictional novel based upon the TrueFaced principles. Wm. Paul Young (THE SHACK) writes "Bo's Cafe' is a treasure for all of us who harbor a longing to be authentic." There were times throughout my read that I got somewhat lost in the descriptive language that authors John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol used to paint the picture for me; however, I think it may have been that I was waiting, pen in hand, to arrive at the next spiritual truth rather than focus on the surroundings of the restaurant. The story of repentance and redemption focuses on the fact that we cannot do anything about our own failure, that God yearns for us to admit this and find everything we need in Him. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, let's talk once you find yourself at the crossroads. Until then, Bo's Cafe' is a great read that can be ordered on Amazon. Thanks to my friend and photographer friend Dan Pope and to all of the wonderful people at www.leadershipcatalyst.com.

So what's on tap for this weekend's holiday reading? Hmmmn. I'm not really sure which pile to pull from as I purge and conquer, but this I know, I'll be home in Louisiana again with my friends and loved ones. Lord willing that I safely make it to my destination, it will be a weekend to remember. This I know.

What Happens When You Marry a Frenchman, Vol. 9

2010-01-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

Annie has her first duck hunt. We all knew it was coming, right? This is only the beginning.

A Little Green Grass Please God

2010-01-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

Do not remember the past events,
pay no attention to things of old.

Look, I am about to do something new;
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert.
--Isaiah 43: 18 - 19

Today I reflect on my signature verses for the last two and a half years after leaving behind my Memphis Buddies. After my first six months in DFW, I had the privilege of working with the Valley Creek Choir. It was an awesome experience that was a "new thing" that God was doing in my life. Then there was Latin Dancing. Who knew I had a senorita somewhere inside?

Today I wait with expectancy about the upcoming Spring. I long to breathe in the smell of a freshly mown lawn.

Shadow of Your Wings

2010-01-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

I love this little excerpt from Victor Hugo - sent it to my Mama last April and she posted it on her blog today. I love it.

Be like the bird that pausing in her flight
Awhile on boughs too slight,
Feels them give way
Beneath her and yet sings,
Knowing that she hath wings.

Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 17:8

So Long Puppy

2010-01-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

The time has come to toss out this little puppy given to me the day Eli was born. Adios my synthetic canine friend.

Our first visitors who signed this little novelty:

Rev. Jimmy Blanton Prov. 3:5
Grandad and Grandmother Linda
Honey, Gami, Ava
Karen Andrews
Shaun Roberts
Heidi Skipper
Mikel Anna
Charisse Hill
Bob Hill
McLendon Hill
A.R. Gaddy
Chenea Small
Marie Durham
Chairiese Drakes
Holly Sutherland
Jessica Wheeler

(Several anonymous nurses)

Reconciliation

2010-01-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

A Message For The New Year Irving Bible Church...

Milestones: Convicted By My Own Hand

2010-01-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

Picture taken at Louisiana State Capitol, Dorinda and Brandi

Two things I am learning: First, powerless is where God wants us to be and, secondly, even as we are running into the darkness God is preparing a way back into the light for the day when our hearts are ready to return to Him.

As I ring in the new year, I can tell you Dear Reader that I am completely powerless in and of my own strength. Watching the life I know come to a crashing halt in a downward spiral like a slow death throughout 2009, I decidedly have admitted to myself that the time has come to purge and pack again as God readies my feet for action for destination unknown.

I began to tackle more plastic storage boxes of my own shattered self-centered dreams that have been in queue since the day I moved into my home here in Texas on a road of ministry that has left me exhausted, burned out, stripped of the identity I once knew, broken, battered, bruised, and betrayed.

An albatross is what many of these storage boxes have been to my life as I have filled every free weekend possible with processing through this "stuff of life" that most people who aren't artists would label as junk and toss out without a second thought. But I like to think of my junk as milestones of the places I've been and the people I've known on this road to Heaven.

I did well early on as I made the choice two years ago to process through my maternity wardrobe and baby clothes and send them to the Goodwill until God so chose to bless me again, if ever. There was initially alot of pain associated with the letting go of this dream, but now my heart is very settled in this area and I am able to help others who are walking the dark road of infertility.

So I retreat to my office and begin to break down some boxes and as I do, I find myself once again convicted by my own hand, my own pen, the evidence and fruit of years past.

I open the box of the day and read for the first time a sealed copy of a letter of recommendation written by Dr. Glenn Walden, Professor of Musicology at LSU. "She is articulate in her speech, meets the public well, is creative in problem solving situations, has skills in leadership, is energetic, and works well with other people. Mrs. Chambless is a mature person of high moral character and excellent personality traits, a devoted wife and mother."

I find cards of encouragement for our ministry from the late Rev. Bob Chadbourne and his wife Sue, who blessed us on every holiday with their kind words in writing, "We are praying for you." The guest list for our rehearsal dinner in Monroe, LA, bright stickers that identified each box as we moved from state to state, a little stuffed puppy dog with signatures of all of Eli's first visitors in Columbus, Georgia, a sealed copy of the CD "Something Happens" that we recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, notes scribbled in my own handwriting from Leadership studies that defined the difference between charisma and character as modeled by Joseph of the Old Testament--these were just some of the maps back to who I am in Christ that I believe to have been God-anointed this day, January 2, 2010.

My work in the Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas legislatures on such character values as the sanctity of marriage and the dignity of life was evidenced by notes from legislators, newspaper clippings, or action photos of me and my sister in arms Dorinda Bordlee of the Bioethics Defense Fund. Songs I had written through the years penned in my own handwriting spoke to me for the life lessons I am now learning when I read my own lyrics, "Though life was breaking at the seams the Father mended me again. He gave me close companionship who reminded me of Him and how he never will abandon me despite the ways of men."

An old script that we had used at First West and again in Columbus, Georgia at Morningside Baptist Church when Mike and Teddy Ussery acted out a poignant three minute vignette on marriage called Looks. "He glanced, she glanced," to "He glared, she glared."

Finally, I found a note from my husband during one of the greatest trials of my life in which I finished the race with integrity back in 1998. "The journey can't be measured by wordly achievements. Know that there is no end to the journey....the sole purpose is to CONTINUE down the journey...no matter what happens."

Though we are stamped with God's DNA on the day we accept Him as our own and nothing can ever separate us from his love, the story of Job reminds me that no one is so righteous that he is beyond Satan's warpath. Dear one, maybe today is the day to relinquish some "stuff", trust God, and step off a harmful path of destruction into your God-anointed eternal destiny. Maybe the time has come to take your hand off of this, and today consciously walk in humility to lean into the power of the Savior and ask for His help. I know I'm there with you, with a hope for my future in 2010, as I wait with a shred of faith and expectancy.

My Two Front Teeth

2010-01-01T16:55:00.001-08:00

My son pulls his own tooth for the first time tonight.

Welcome 2010

2009-12-31T22:02:00.001-08:00

Birthday Surprise

2009-12-29T07:26:00.000-08:00

Last night my doorbell rang and Laurie Lentz stood in my doorway with
this and a card that read "you are loved.". What nice surprise!

Not Twenty-Nine and Unashamed

2009-12-28T17:06:00.000-08:00

Thirty-eight. That's my new number and I am unashamed. Honestly, for the last couple of years I've had a hard time remembering my exact age. Is that a sign of something? I always have to stop and do the math to get that last digit correct.

But this is it. There's no going back now!

Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole provided a little dinner ambiance at my home with just my family and the dog. I looked down at my champion labrador retriever Stitch the 17th and wondered how he might like to have some double chocolate cake? His long tongue nearly draped to the floor, he finally convinced me to relent and surrender a nice bowl of spaghetti.

I could write a book about my 2009 year. I think I will. I have wrestled with my heart in 2009. I have lived an adventure like never before. I have walked in the desert. One thing's for certain: I'm not an expert at....ANYTHING! Anything at all. In fact, I'm generally just above average in a variety of subjects from scanning electron microscopy to tap dancing.

Tonight I pulled out my tap shoes while waiting on dinner and tippity-tap, I worked up a sweat. You'd think I was drunker than a skunk with the sounds and smells seeping through my windows, but no wine could replace the musings of my heart on this night. There's nothing like garlic, butter, and jazz to get things started! As we wait for the snow to fall, I think that my broken bones rejoiced at the making of another memory, and my beating heart seemed to smile as I wiped the sweat from my brow and stopped to catch my breath.

One quick glance in the mirror..."God is faithful," I tell myself as I begin making up my own rhythms once again, knowing full well that the unseen hands of my life are working on my behalf.

Making My Birthday Cake

2009-12-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

Chocolate...ummm.

A Little Allison Krauss For the Road

2009-12-26T04:07:00.001-08:00

This song really touches my heart as I hit the road today...

Bunkie Reunions

2009-12-25T20:28:00.001-08:00

Good times in Funky Bunkie during a visit with my old friend Jon Roy.

The Best Heirlooms

2009-12-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

My Christmas day included lessons on "Armadillo Trapping 101" by Nannie Tanner, little reminders that I'm no longer the favorite in my Granny's household, and the handing down of some family heirlooms for my collection.

While in West Monroe, my late mother-in-law's jewelry was divvied up among the Chambless girls, my mother handed down her engagement ring to me after having it redesigned into a beautiful necklace, and my Granny relinquished my favorite china cups after wheeling around her lazy susan while sitting on the floor.
Some of our best talks were over coffee in these cups reserved just for me with a cheese toast breakfast made with love!
I visited with so many loved ones from years past, including my Great Uncle Marvin and Great Aunt Jean Tanner--my Grandfather's brother who bears a striking resemblance to my Papa. The 92 year old former Principal of Evergreen High School is still as sharp as a tack. It was nothing for Aunt Jean to pick up a live chicken, wring it's neck, and have it in the pot within the hour--of course after all the girls plucked it.

I love all of the goodies I am bringing back to Texas with me, but truth be known, the greatest heirlooms of all are the relationships we have far and wide and the God who knits us together through the years. Merry Christmas to all of my loved ones and may peace be in your hearts for this day and the new year to come!

A Visit with Uncle Craig

2009-12-25T09:14:00.000-08:00

My Uncle Craig Morrow, Purple Heart recipient, WWII POW, a true
American hero.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-24T18:14:00.001-08:00

We never could get a good picture because my sister Ava kept making me
laugh!

Got Sugar?

2009-12-20T18:52:00.000-08:00

My day started before dawn down Riche' Lane with my Uncle Jack, followed by lunch and a little orange-picking at my Daddy's house.

Over the river and through the swamp to Grandmother's house we go....

The Bay Hills...

Here's my cousin Nicholas Riche' with two mallards....but not as many as his Mom Cheryl!

Burning the sugar cane was another adventure with Uncle Jack. The mud was a slight problem. I knew I might be in trouble when I found myself stuck in four feet of mud on a four wheeler in the midst of burning cane sitting on a gas tank with a butane tank on my back, a blow torch in my hand, and a 22 gauge shotgun across my lap.

The amount of humectant in my hair was the least of my worries when Uncle Jack decided the best approach for pushing me out of the mud would be to use the front end loader. I don't know about you, but if you've ever sat in front of a moving piece of equipment of this magnitude....well, it's not the most peaceful easy feeling you've ever known. One wrong move and I can already read the headlines in the Bunkie Record, " 'Beautiful' Cajun girl crushed by backhoe when Avoyelles farmer John "Jack" Riche'...." you can see where I'm going with this.

The mission was a success though we did not get to shoot any wild hogs. At the end of the day, we looked at the burning field knowing that at tomorrow's daybreak, Uncle Jack will start the process all over again. After my day on Bayou Rouge, I have a renewed appreciation for the Louisiana that was right under my nose in my childhood. I get tickled whenever we order edamame in the city, knowing that I was surrounded by fields of it growing up and we would have never put it on our table, let alone pay posh prices for it!

Today I realized more than ever the actual physical challenges, risk, and faith-walk of the Avoyelles farmer though sugar cane is one of the most forgiving crops of all.

I think I shall never non-chalantly pile another scoop of brown sugar on my sweet potatoes without telling about all of my adventures of this day. The legacy of my Grandfather Alfred is alive and well on Bayou Rouge.

Bienvenue en Louisiana

2009-12-20T06:18:00.001-08:00

In The Cane Cutter

2009-12-20T05:06:00.000-08:00

In the Sugar Cane

2009-12-20T04:53:00.000-08:00

Riche' Lane

Ready To Cut The Sugar Cane

2009-12-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

I'm out in the field with Uncle Jack today. Mud mud mud.

Riche' Grandchildren

2009-12-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Missing Scotty and Jonathan

Pig's On

2009-12-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

Trampoline

2009-12-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Trail Riding

2009-12-19T07:25:00.000-08:00

Uncle Jack's Vegetable Garden

2009-12-19T06:47:00.000-08:00

I'm doing all the work!

Pulling Turnips with Uncle Jack

2009-12-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

Bayou Rouge Cochon Du Lait

2009-12-19T04:36:00.000-08:00

Hanging The Pig

2009-12-19T04:30:00.000-08:00

The Fire

2009-12-19T04:13:00.000-08:00

The Pig

2009-12-19T03:54:00.000-08:00

Home

2009-12-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

Louisiana Pitt Stop

2009-12-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Starshine

2009-12-18T07:34:00.001-08:00

Over the river and through the woods....

Dad and Eli

2009-12-17T12:15:00.000-08:00

Oh Christmas Tree

2009-12-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

By special request...

Headed For the Storms

2009-12-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to take off, the crew prepares us for a turbulent flight
which promises to be rocky AND delayed getting on the ground. I think
I just heard the lady behind me quoting the book of Ruth to her lived
ones "whither thou goest I will go.". As I said goodbye to my people
today, I am reminded to lean into God and trust Him in so many ways!

Silver Bells Verse 3

2009-12-14T10:00:00.001-08:00

Silver Bells Verse Two

2009-12-14T09:59:00.001-08:00