CLARISSA'S CORNER

Tonight, I was privileged to witness a preacher son's tribute to his mother. As a daughter, I couldn't help but marvel at the strength and character not only of this man but his family. My piano teacher, Lisa Ross, and her husband, Bruce, pastor at the First Christian Church here in Mt. Vernon. This past weekend, his mother, Mrs. Jean Ross, passed away after a long illness.What a moving service! A grandson reading comforting scripture passages. A daughter-in-law remembering her mother-in-law, the sacrifices and loving care given by a committed family, the good times, the fun times, the wishes for a different ending and hope for something even better. Acapella voices lifted in beautiful harmony ...

Last night, on my way home from work, I was just driving along thinking of the numerous things I needed to get done...ASAP. When suddenly, a huge truck went by me, capturing my attention. Then, I saw it! A poor pitiful little turtle upside down in the middle of the road. So I swerved to miss it and kept on going. Almost home yet I knew I was going to have to go back and do a "rescue". So I had to go on down our road to the little church parking lot and turn around. All this stuff to do and I am going out of my way to just go back and turn over a turtle...I had quite an argument with myself!Then my mind reflected back to a story I once heard of a father and son walking along a beach covered with ...

As soon as my eyes opened this morning, my mind reflected back eight years ago. An ordinary work morning, then suddenly a phone call...a plane has hit the twin towers. Incredible! Unbelievable! Even as I watched the continuous newscasts, I didn't believe it was really happening. An attack on American soil to American people? The horror, disbelief and sorrow hit me in waves.It is a moment and days of surreal moments that I will never forget. Images that will never leave me, a place in my heart that will never heal. In fact, as strange as it may be, I don't want to forget..I don't want to forget the sacrifice of heroic men and women who also went to work one ordinary, some to make the ultimate ...

Every now and then doesn't it just feel good to get away? Of course, here lately it seems I've been "away" more than I've been home. Once again, Jeanette and I hit the road to adventure...heading north on Labor Day weekend. I began to regret that decision right around Florence when at 3:30 in the afternoon, traffic began really picking up. By the time, we got out of Cincinnati, I was thinking this was a Really Bad ...

After everything I learned Sunday afternoon from my new photographer friends, I could wait to photograph the Moonbow at Cumberland Falls. They gave me some really awesome tips and I was so excited. I wish I could say I was successful, I wish I could say I came back with some incredible photos, I wish I could say I even saw a Moonbow. However....Before I even left Mount Vernon, due to rain and clouds in the area, I ...

Sunday was the first chance I've had to attend the recently formed Central Ky Photography Group's meetup. Wow! What a group of photographers! Although I have friends and family who enjoy taking pictures, it was so cool being surrounded with friendly folks who are "crazy" (or should I say passionate) about photography. As I listened to individuals talk about just taking a drive to look for good shots, making u-turns, ...

Last night as I was doing my ritual cleaning while trying to pack for the weekend, I came across two souvenirs leftover from my nephews. The one from Jaden was a smiley man he made out of Grandpa's skeeter legs and the other was a note from Dawson. As we were leaving the pancake pantry in the Smokies, he slipped this note in my hand which, of course, packrat that I am, I have kept! So, here I am ready to embark on an ...

As you can probably tell by now, I blog in spurts. Sometimes I just can't wait to share happenings, especially special visits with family and friends, going on and go. Other times, I struggle to know just what you would like to read or how much I should sure. Would you like to see more pictures? More thoughtful posting? or just the typical craziness of my life? Do you like the book-like posts or the short ones? I would ...

I was reminded this evening of the sermon by dad preached Sunday evening which touched my heart and made me do some thinking this week. Although he didn't give his sermon a title, I think "A Perfect Heart" would be appropriate. He took his text from 2 Chronicles Chapter 25 verses 1 and 2:Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.How often do we go about our day doing our jobs, fulfilling our responsibilities, taking care of our families, living our lives, doing what is right? But what about ...