Belles and Beaus Etiquette Class

When I was little I was enrolled in an etiquette class called Belles and Beaus. Let me tell you, I wasn't really happy about it.

etiquette (ˈɛtɪˌkɛt) - the customs or rules governing behavior regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life.

A true Southern Belle knows how to keep a conversation going, know how to set a table, which fork to use, how to serve tea, and when to keep their mouth shut. I really needed help with the mouth part! I was more mouthy than sassy, which often resulted in severe eye rolling or leg popping.

I also recall being tied to the chair in this class. Seriously. It wasn't tight, but it was to teach us to sit up straight at the table and not to eat like a plow hand. After all of this I was allowed to invite a guest to my "graduation." I chose my Nannie and I was rewarded for my efforts in the class with a tea set (and a pickle ornament which is an inside joke). I still have this tea set on display in my room.

Oh, the things I learned. Now, if I am at a dinner party I don't feel uncomfortable if there is more than 4 pieces of silverware at my table setting. I can also tell you who has no idea which fork to use! The key to any social event, even day to day life, is to approach it with confidence. Look others in the eye at all times when speaking to them or being spoken to. LAZY MABLE, STRONG AND ABLE, GET YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE. Please chew with your mouth shut. As said in "Miss Congeniality," no one likes to see the "half-masticated cow rolling around in your wide-open trap." Last but not least, shoulders back! (Which I still struggle with. UGH).

While Belles and Beaus class was not one of my favorite things at the time, I'm grateful that I attended. The knowledge has helped me approach situations everyday with what I think is an advantage. It definitely was beneficial and I would recommend it to others who have little people!

Matthew 7:3

I, I, I, I, I, I, I...  wouldn't it be interesting to find out how many times we use the word "I" in a day? I'm not meaning when you tell someone, "I am going to the store." What I mean is when you tell someone, "I would NEVER do something like that. What were they thinking?" We are all guilty of this. One of my favorite Bible verses addresses this:

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

Matthew 7:3

It has become so important to society to judge others. Take the grocery store for example. Pretend you are walking around with your cart and stop on aisle 5 for cereal. There is another woman looking for a type of cereal as well. Her cart is loaded down with cookies, chips, ice cream, some fruit, soft drinks, and she is reaching for the Coco Puff cereal. It doesn't look very healthy at all, but you don't know what she is getting the food for. Maybe her child has a school function that she is donating these things to. Or what about that check out line. The infamous row of magazines! I'm not talking about the ones that say a woman gave birth to an alien... I'm talking about the ones that say "I lost 50 lbs. in 2 months" or the one that says something along the lines of "Look at how much weight these stars have gained!" Do we really need to look at this people and pass judgment on them? No, we don't know them and I certainly wouldn't want them judging me.

I love the analogy in Matthew 7:3 -- sawdust : plank. Think about how small sawdust is... it is basically splinter dust. Now think about how big a plank is... like a 2x4. As a society we have become so obsessed with pointing the finger at others that we turn the blind eye to our own faults. It is much easier to talk smack about others than look seriously at what we are going. As the old saying goes, if you point one finger at someone else you have four pointing back at you.

I judged someone this morning walking to class. I saw someone wearing an outfit and thought, why on earth would she wear something like that? I would never... I stopped myself and realized that I was being judgmental. Maybe the outfit wasn't that great, but the girl felt pretty and comfortable in her outfit. Who was I to judge? I know I have worn some crazy stuff, too.

I guess my whole point is that if we can catch ourselves in the midst of seeing the faults in others, maybe we can begin to consciously make the effort to not judge. Take a look at yourself and think hard about this. Instead of being so quick to judge try to find the positive side of the situation. Looking at someone's "sawdust" is not going to help us fix our "plank."

Don't Air Your Dirty Laundry

I really hate when I see a public screaming match or overhear a tacky conversation. Friends, this is called "airing your dirty laundry." You know those things that people used to (and sometimes still do) hang clothes on to dry? Well it would be a plumb shame if you accidentally put up the dirty laundry instead of the clean clothes on the line. That would be mortifying!

Source: Clip Art

Well, guess what? People seem to have forgotten which kind of actions belong in private and public. Having a hissy fit in a parking lot is NOT going to get you anywhere. Looking back on a moment such as that would probably make you want to crawl in a hole. A more extreme example would be that trashy show ('telebasura' in Spanish!) where people talk about who their "baby daddy" could be. COME ON! (Okay, so it may be a little entertaining to pause on, but REALLY?)

We are all guilty of talking in frustration, a.k.a- venting, but please do not say anything that you wouldn't say to your grandmother unless you get in a more private place... if not for your sake, do it for the majority of people around you. It shows a little class, or even manners!

Bite that tongue and don't air your dirty laundry! :-D

Isaiah 6:8

Over the past few months I have been drawn to this Bible verse:

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Isaiah 6:8

I have always enjoyed helping people, but this verse takes it a step farther. As a Christian I should be the FEET of Christ. I need to show others who God is by my actions. I have always tried to model a Christian life, but this verse just reaffirms that. A good friend of mine told me not that long ago that I (or anyone) may be the only Jesus a person ever knows... make sure your actions show Him.

I have always wanted to go on an international mission/service trip. The ones that I have looked into in the past just didn't seem to be timed right. A particular one peaked my interest a few months ago. From the first time I heard about it I felt drawn to it. I attended every information meeting. I mulled over the idea and decided that there was no way I could afford it. God had other plans for me.

The more I tried to avoid thinking about the trip and convincing myself that it wouldn't work, the more I felt drawn to it. It was like a magnet was drawing me to the trip. I finally did what I should have done in the first place... PRAY!

I prayed that I would ultimately do what was the will of God. I prayed for God to "send me." If it wasn't meant to be, I also prayed that He would use me somewhere else. I sent out letters to family and friends asking for support on my journey as the next step. I also did fundraising. The prayers and donations that I have received are amazing. As the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way!"

I will be leaving very soon for this mission/service trip and this verse will definitely be on my mind. I hope that everything I do shows that I am a witness to Christ and that I can have a lasting impact on others. Please pray that everything I do is God's will and that I will be the feet of Christ.

What are grits?

In the South, grits are a breakfast staple. I eat them every morning. Similar to polenta, grits are dried, ground up corn. I found not too long ago that this is a "Southern Thang," because people in other parts of the country are used to oatmeal. My favorite way to eat them is by adding cheese and bacon. You can find grits with jelly, grits with butter, shrimp and grits, flavored grits... you get the picture! :-D

There is also another type of grits...

Picture credited to http://www.gritsgifts.com/

Deborah Ford founded Grits Inc. several years ago. GRITS stands for "Girls Raised in the South." GRITS has become something that many Southern women identify themselves with. For more information check out the following website: http://www.gritsinc.com/home.html.

God Talk vs. God Walk

My faith is very important to me. Over the past 5 years or so I have grown a much deeper relationship with Christ. At church today my pastor talked about the "God Talk vs. God Walk." You can have both of these together, but it seems to me that many people get stuck on the "God Talk" part and don't make it to the "God Walk" part.

Remember that what we have in life is not ours. Everything is God's. WE are God's people. It is important for us to realize that God gave us the gift of redemption and we are responsible to make choices that glorify Him. Don't just talk about your faith... be active in it and do all things for Him.

Southern Happiness

I was born and raised in the South.  I know I'm a bit partial, but I think it is one of the best places to live... at least in the U.S.A.!  There is something special about the friendly people who wave when they pass you on the road, the conversations in the grocery store, knowing almost everyone in town, and the beautiful land that goes on and on.  If you don't like it, don't try to change it.  Y'all are welcome to visit and leave anytime. :-D