Monthly Archives: March 2018

Acceptance: She’s My Kind of Girl -By Karla

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“I’m a nut; I’m a nut.  I go to the movie just to hold my hand. I wrap my arm around my waist, and when I get fresh I slap my face.  I’m a nut.”

That is a little ditty that my Mom used to sing sometimes.  I have NO idea where it came from, but it has always made me laugh!  Now, while I have never wrapped my arms around my waist. I am a nut.  A certifiable one.

These are just a few examples:

  • Once I asked Donna how many legs a chicken has.  Now, please know I was young and have a habit of talking before I think.  I might add that there is a little Tom T. Hall song entitled The Song about the One-Legged Chicken that messed with my mind, but nonetheless,  I did ask her.
  • Recently,  I wore my dress to school backwards.  I promise it is not as bad as it sounds.
  • About ten years ago, I was trying out a video chair in Walmart as possible gifts for Donna’s boys. It collapsed jerking me backwards and sprawled out in the middle of isle five! Donna was of no help. She was doubled over about to split her gut laughing at me even though I was checking out the chairs as possible presents for her boys
  • There has been more than one year in which I have swigged a cup of hot pink vinegar water.  You see I often do things like Mom did.  She always used coffee cups, food dye, and vinegar water to dye Easter eggs.  I love hot tea, and I drank it morning, noon, and night.  You can imagine my facial expressions and the laughs of those watching as I have run to the sink more to spit it out! I need to find a cup that does not resemble the rest of the Easter-egg-dying mugs.

Yep, I am a nut, a loon, and a goofball all rolled into one. It used to really bother me because I tried to be perfect seeking the acceptance of others.  When that did not happen, I felt inadequate and frankly at times a failure.

The book Jesus Calling helped me understand.  Day after day, Sarah Young shares how much God loves us all.  She provides scripture after scripture to explain how we are designed with weaknesses so that we can dependent on God more and more. I learned how to focus less on my  imperfections, but rather to gear my thoughts on serving others through His love.  Reading my Bible daily, has changed my life.

Sunday is a most glorious holy-day!  Easter.  I have so many wonderful memories of dying eggs, eating coconut bunny cakes, four lavender Easter dresses, and worshiping a risen Savior!

How incredible to think the depths of God’s love.  He sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to earth.  Jesus was betrayed by his own people. They spit on him, beat him, and hung him on a cross to die for me.  For me–to take away my sins, so that I could have an everlasting-life!

What a wonderful feeling to know that I am so cared for that I can accept a free gift of love from God to become His child.  He created me, forgives me of my shortcomings, and probably smiles at my goofiness.  And as I strive to serve Him, I choose to believe he often thinks “she’s my kind of girl”.

 

I serve a Risen Savior.  He’s in the world today.

I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

He Lives; He lives. Christ Jesus lives today.

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Influence: Hand-Me-Down Genes -By Donna

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While walking down the hallway with my kindergarteners yesterday, a little girls grabbed my hand, looked up at me, and said, “Mrs. Tumlins, teach me to be just like you.” I laughed to myself and thought, Why would you want to be like me? Then I thought, who am I really? What makes me, me?

I came to the conclusion that  I am a bunch of hand-me-down genes. They say I look like my great-grandmother on my mother’s side. I have her olive complexion and dark hair. But others say I look like my Aunt Hattie on my daddy’s side. I know I have my mama’s pointy nose and small stature. The dimple on my daddy’s chin also graces my face.

Personality wise, I have my daddy’s easy-going temperament. My mother’s feisty disposition is buried deep inside me and rarely gets to rear its head. I am not sure where my quiet side came from, but I think I was given a double dose.  

My granddaddy was a school teacher and loved children. I follow in his footsteps. My grandmother loved to read and write, as do I.  She was always humming a tune in the kitchen, and there is always a song in my head.  

Humor? Well I believe that comes from almost every single member of the family, as does the love of food. I have a plethora of good cooks in my extended family. My compassion for animals may come from my Uncle Lynn. Being kind to all people, maybe Aunt Marlene. The desire to do for others, Aunt Kathy. And well, Aunt Carol, I too enjoy acting like a fool when I am with those I love

Influence

Over the years, my genes were influenced by my families’ behaviors.There are some things about me I was not born with, but have learned from my family over the years. Kathryn, Karla’s mom, influenced me to always look my best. I never saw her looking slouchy. Even when she was ready for bed, she was dressed to a T, in her satin pajamas. I have surprised people with my knowledge about car parts, thanks to countless hours watching and listening to my daddy. And I know a lot about clothes, from the material to the stitching. I think my mom could have sewn the Emperor’s New Clothes.   

However, my family members failed to pass down musical talent to me. I missed that gene. I sit at family reunions and listen to the banjo, guitar, harmonica, spoons, piano, and other instruments wishing I could play. But what they didn’t fail me at was planting the seeds of faith in my heart. Generation after generation passed down their faith in God.


To my little student I could say, “to teach you to be like me would be impossible. I am one of kind. God made me and surrounded me by people to mold me into who I am today. How lucky I am.”

And thank goodness, they handed down their genes and not that bonnet!!




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Violence: Sick and Tired! -By Karla

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Mom’s Words Were True

Truly, I do not know if that is a Southern saying or if it is just one Mom used on a regular basis. She certainly had the right to express it to us—raising four girls! “I’m sick and tired of the way this kitchen looks after y’all get a snack,” or “Girls, I am sick and tired of you putting a wet towel on top of my good clothes. If you do it one more time, I’m gonna pinch your heads off!”

On the skirt tails of the Parkland, Florida shooting on February 14th, our school system experienced several threats, as did several systems near me. Well, let me tell you: I am sick and tired of this madness! Rarely am I as vocal as I am about to be. In my opinion, school shootings has become major a crisis! Something has got to change!

Laws to Protect

In 1901, Connecticut became the first state to pass a law to limit the speed at which a motorized vehicle would travel. (12mph in the city and 15 in the countryside!) The USDA, founded by Lincoln in 1862, became vital for consumers when growth of the meat packing industries began booming after railroad transported meat to other areas. It seems to me that when a crisis arises, public awareness awakens. This attention then creates the need for protection, which often takes the form of a law.

I believe in the second amendment stating that we have the right to bear arms. It is wise to protect yourself. Hunting is a part of our heritage and is still useful to many.

Limits Needed

Boundaries! Seriously, why does any civilian need an assault weapon. The key word being need. Yes, people will find ways around the system to purchase these weapons anyway. But, that does not mean a law should not be made. It would become a criminal act if they went around the system.

Gun at School

Last week walking down the hallway at school, I heard a teacher spout the words, “gunshot, high school, kids running…” I tried to process but no quickly enough.

“Have you heard? Can you please go to —- class for a bit? She is trying to check on her husband (who works at the high school).” Someone grabbed me to provide assistance.

Warranted Panic

I stepped into the room and was almost frozen at what was happening. Another teacher came in and asked, “Should we divide the kids and put them in the other classrooms on the hallway?” Hesitantly, I whispered that I did not really know what was going on. Soon I discovered the gravity of the situation. This teacher had a son at the high school.

Comforting with a Prayer

We stepped into the hallway as fear shown in her eyes and asked her if I could pray with her. I petitioned God for His protection over students, teachers, and emergency responders. Then I told her I would stay with the class. Rounding into the doorway, I tried to keep normalcy. I told them their teacher had to step out for a few minutes and asked the kids up get out a book to read. Within minutes, a student in the hallway spouted the words, “Shooting at the high school!”

Almost Every Student Had a Connection

A girl mouthed to her friend that her mom was a teacher there. I saw her eyes as if the scene were from a fictional movie, but I snapped into the realization of truth. I took a deep breath. Sharing with the class, I reported shots were fired. but I did not know any details except that the high school was on lock down. Several students began frantically searching the room for their friends making eye contact. I asked who had siblings there, and five responded. Others said, “I have a cousin.” “I have an aunt.” One boy in the back of the room had eyes filling with tears. I tried not to call attention to him, but walked toward him and asked who he had there. He too had a mom teaching. I gently patted his back as I attempted to keep us all calm.

Helping Students Calm

“Guys, I always think it is best not to think the worst or to go into a panic until we know facts.” I shared that in times of danger and stress it is good to have a friend, so we rearranger our desk, allowing them to sit with friends.

Over the intercom twice during the afternoon, we heard updates. Eventually, we learned that a high school teacher had brought a gun to school. He had barricaded himself in a classroom and fired shots toward the window. Praise God no one was physically hurt. But, the emotional damage of the day will be forever etched into our minds. For almost a week, every time I closed my eyes I could still see the terror in those innocent faces.

A Needed Change

I do not pretend to have all the answers. But, I do know that one by one we should be standing up asking for some legislation to be passed soon. Houston, we have a problem, and something needs to change!

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Friendship -By Donna

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Friendship is a gift from God. But what makes the best kind of friend? One that will get the dried lipstick off your teeth! Another characteristic is that a great friend is fun.  Karla and I have had enough fun to last a lifetime! We can have fun anywhere and anytime. Standing in line at a deli one day we were trying to decide what we could eat. We told the young man behind us to go around us. His reply, “Oh no, I am enjoying the show!”

A friend should be loyal, caring, and honest. More importantly friendship is the opportunity to love and serve others rather than having others love and serve you. To have good friends, you must be a good friend.

Above the Call of Duty

Karla and I are often doing for one another. We don’t keep tabs, or pay each other back, because “it all comes out in the wash” as our mothers would say. Recently, Karla went above and beyond the call of duty for me. I needed Travis, my oldest son, who is away at college, to make an important phone call, but he was in class. I was going to call and see if they would take the information from me, but I was sure they wouldn’t since he is over 18. So, Karla volunteered.

Impersonating

The plan was for me to call, and if they asked to speak to Travis, she was going to impersonate him. I told her to talk like a young guy, not real formal. I wrote all the needed information on a paper for her to have handy. We sat in the quiet car, and I dialed the number. As I suspected, when I told her his birth date, she asked to speak to him. I handed it to Karla, and  put it on speaker phone. She changed to her most manly voice, and the conversation went something like this:

Karla: “Yea.”   

Lady:  “Yea! What are you saying yea for, I haven’t even asked you a question yet.”

Karla: “Sorry.”

Lady:  “What is your name?”

Karla: “Travis Tumlin”        

Lady:  “Spell that.”

Karla:  “Tumin.” (I whispered to Karla, “you spelled it wrong! It’s T-u-m-l-i-n)  

Lady:  “Ma’am!  Are you spelling your son’s name for him? Is your mom spelling your name for you?”

Karla:  “Sorry Ma’am, I got a little confused. I haven’t been feeling so good lately.”

The conversation went on and the lady who seemed very upset with Travis to begin with became sympathetic. (I think she thought he was not the brightest crayon in the box!) One of the last things she said to him was an email address and she added, “It’s www., now honey that’s three w’s in a row.  And good luck now.”

That was one of the funniest moments we have ever had. Friendship often goes to great lengths.

Being a good friend is just as important as having a good friend. Make a choice to be a good friend to someone today.  

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