We received a free year of Apple TV when Ron transitioned to the Iphone SE. As a result we discovered “The Morning Show.” We were immediately hooked, already we’ve watched three episodes.
The puzzle continues.
Adjustments were made to my puzzle area. The towel on the table made it impossible to put the pieces together. An investment in a folding table has helped immensely. Progress has occurred. Ron misses the coffee table, but is willing to adjust.
Since the semester ended, I’m focusing on improving my writing. Currently, understanding passive voice and applying it to my writing is top priority. My friend Johnny is helping Ron and I with this task. I’ve found a website to help further my mission. I’m beginning to understand, but the light isn’t completely on at the moment.
Dahlia’s continue to bring a smile to my face. My northern friends remind me how blessed it is to live in the south. I’m grateful I can work outside, as I’m doing now. Sunshine on my face makes social isolation bearable for me.
I’ve fallen in love with Dahlia’s
Another week is here. We’re grateful for our health and God’s provision in our lives. We pray for our nation daily. We’re trusting God to lead in all things.
A few days ago I dropped my phone in the toilet. Gratefully, the phone still works. The decision was made to wait until the device quits working before ordering a replacement. While exploring new options for the phones replacement, I “accidentally” hit the “Confirm Purchase” button.
I immediately told my husband of my dire mistake. His response, “You’re a smart girl, I find it hard to believe you “accidentally” purchased a phone.”
Well, O.K., maybe it wasn’t an accident. I’m not admitting to anything. Yes, my husband spoils me. Yes, I’m grateful for the life God has given us together. And I’m thankful my new phone is arriving by May 15th:-).
Good Witch
I discovered a new show, “Good Witch.” Light, funny and easy to follow. The show pairs well with my efforts to complete a puzzle. So far during the pandemic, I’ve started two craft projects: chalk painting and crocheting. Both are back in the closet where they prefer to live a quiet, uninterrupted life. The puzzle lives in front of the T.V., waiting for me to work on it.
Be Still My Beating Heart
My favorite photo from May 1, 2020 is the one to the left. Sophia, our little princess Rat Terrier, is precious. Her and Rocco, a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix are photogenic. Taking photos of them is a pastime for me. Look at that face! She gets me every time:-).
For the past 16 weeks I worked my butt off taking three Master level courses. Each class had a major project that spanned the semester. The weekly work load was overwhelming at times. On Saturday’s, sometime Sunday’s, I would breathe a sigh of relief when I crossed the final task of the week from the list. When COVID became a reality and social isolation a mandate, I was grateful for the extra time to study.
Spring 2020 Classes
Painstakingly, for the past two weeks, I’ve been diligent in my prayers. “Lord, help me finish well.” Yesterday, when I pushed “Save and Submit” on my final test, I held my breath. Finally, I was done. With the exception of responding to a couple of discussion boards, I have completed the most difficult semester of my Masters journey thus far. I earned an 80 on the test, giving me a final grade of 91.5. A low “A” is the reward for my work in all of my classes. Anti-climatic is the only way to describe the feeling.
And that is that! Now what?
I have books waiting in my kindle library to read. C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce” is at the top of my list. Yet yesterday afternoon, in the anti-climatic moment after finishing my final, the book was of no interest to me. Maybe I will start it today?
Or perhaps I will spend time with my girls, Grace and Frankie. Jane Fonda is 82 years old. She is more active and in better shape than I am. As my mother used to say, “I should feel ashamed of myself.” I do Mom:-). However, I never professed that I’m an aerobic guru like Jane. But I do admire her. And now I’ve learned she’s a blogger. A blog I may find myself visiting in my spare time.
Grace and Frankie are fun!
Gratefully, the weather is consistently warmer. The rain, hopefully will start to lessen. Perhaps now is the time to begin an new exercise regime? I could organize a step challenge, or possibly a Zoom book club. Or perhaps I will do nothing. That option is always available as well.
Being flexible is not one of my strengths. Having been raised as a princess by my father, I want what I want, when I want it. I’m not someone who likes to be interrupted. My friend Pete posted the blog’s headline on his Facebook page yesterday. I believe it was my favorite post of the day.
Pete’s post gave me something to work on yesterday. I had the opportunity to be flexible just a couple hours later. Ron called to discuss a business situation. I wasn’t pleased because it wasn’t exactly how I wanted to handle the situation. But I thought of Pete’s post and made the decision to be flexible, and thus not get bent out of shape.
I took a shower and thought of Mom. Taking a shower is not a necessity during the pandemic. I’ve had more conversations with people, who like me, are taking less showers than they used too.
Yesterday was a wonderful day. Ron worked. I Zoomed with two of my dearest friends over morning coffee. I studied for my final. I took a bike ride. Gratefully, I still have some work I get to do. And then I started a puzzle, lent to me by my friend Penney.
My Tuesday evenings have been filled with my “Paul Prayers.” A group of women who mean the world to me: Lori, Karen, Susan, Melissa, Heather, Wendy, and Crystal. I would never in a million years have thought I would be able to bring them all together.
I thank God for Zoom in the midst of this pandemic. Zoom allows me to spend my Tuesday evenings with women who don’t live in the same state, are from different parts of my life, and otherwise would never have met. I would not have thought of doing this if it wasn’t for social isolation. Our hourly meetings have become a highlight of my week. Who would have ever thought?
I finished watching Unbelievable. The story is truly Unbelievable:
Ron and I ended our evening with an adult beverage in the hot tub. Ron bought the hot tub for me because I couldn’t walk. I was in so much pain with my Achilles, he couldn’t stand it. We went on vacation a couple of years ago at Hilton Head Island when the pain was at its worst. I was doing an intensive tennis coach’s training week. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to do it. I had braces, wraps and numbing lotions to help me with the pain. The house we rented had a hot tub. Every day after training, I came home and got in the hot tub. I would massage my Achilles on the jet until the pain went away. By the end of the week, I was walking better than I had been in months. We came home from vacation, four days later, Ron bought the hot tub. We now consider it one of the best purchases we have ever made. Our old, aching bones are healed in its waters.
Those words captured my attention. A female detective is driving a rape victim to the hospital for testing after being victimized. The young college student sees those words taped to the dashboard of the SUV and asks what they mean. The detective tells her it comes from Isaiah. God asks who is willing to go and do what He wants done. Isaiah responds loudly, “Here I am, send me!” He didn’t even know what the job was, but he was willing to do whatever God wanted.
This dialogue created a powerful moment between these two women. Unknowingly, the detective had been vulnerable with this young girl who desperately needed someone to be vulnerable with her. She had just been violated in unspeakable ways. She was far from home, no family near. She was scared, isolated, alone. A long forgotten verse, scribbled on a post-it note, taped to a dash, created a moment of vulnerability the young girl needed.
Unbelievable is a limited six episode series on Netflix based on true events. A young at risk girl is raped and no one believes her. Fifteen years later, the rapist hasn’t stopped, he’s just moved around the country. The series tells the story. I’m on episode four, will probably finish it today.
Men will never know what it is like to be female, no matter how hard they try. Women have a vulnerability that men don’t have. We aren’t as strong as them physically. We can’t protect ourselves like they can. I’m not saying women are less than, they are not. I’m just saying, physically, men are stronger than women. I know there are exceptions to every rule. But if a man and woman are in a physical battle, the man is going to win that fight most of the time.
Unbelievable illustrates that point very well. The show is not easy to watch. This rapist had no “type,” one of his victims was a 72 year old woman. But it happened, to people whose lives were changed because of it. We can’t hide from the ugliness of this world if we’re going to love the people in it.
If you’re not in the mood for a heavy, thought provoking series, don’t watch this.
“Yes!” Jumping for joy, B. Morrison couldn’t believe her eyes as her husband’s ball rolled neatly into the cup. Reigning champions Ron and Beth Morrison defended their title successfully on Thanksgiving day, 2019, at Deer Run’s Champion course. The round was determined by one putt on the 18th hole.
With a 7:30 a.m. tee time, the weather was in the low 50’s and sunshine. Matt Minick, the first champion of the Minick Cup, set the rules.
“No strokes given, playing straight up. Have to put it in; if it’s on the edge, have to tap it in. If it lands in the fairway and can’t be found because of the leaves, no penalty. If it’s not on the fairway, have to take a penalty.”
Flipping the tee to determine lineup, R. Morrison was first to tee off; two drives allowed off the first tee, he only needed one. Minick teed off next. Bill Brantley, a founding player of the Cup, teed off last for the men. B. Morrison put one down the golf cart path for her first shot. Minick’s shot ended up in the leaves off the fairway, a man of his word; he took a penalty when he couldn’t find it.
Minick was on fire the first nine holes, birdieing the fourth hole with a long putt. The Morrisons couldn’t get their act together, finding themselves down five strokes at the end of the front nine.
The tide began to turn when Minick came to hole 11. “This hole gets me every time,” he said before teeing off.
“I’m playing it up the left.” B. Morrison said to her husband.
Unfortunately, teeing off into the woods, she landed beside Brantley’s yellow ball. Doglegging right around water, Minick and R. Morrison started off well, with their tee shot landing in the fairway. Minick’s second shot splashed in the water, R Morrison’s left, landing in the bunker. R. Morrison bogeyed the hole, Minick losing a stroke.
With each hole, the suspense grew. At the start of 16, Minick and Morrisons were even. Minick said, “Not for long.” And he was right, picking up a stroke when he bogeyed the hole. R. Morrison saved the Morrisons from losing more strokes with his double bogey. With the pressure on the Morrisons, the foursome headed to the seventeenth hole, where B. Morrison won it with a bogey.
Stepping onto the 18th tee box, Brantley wasn’t in the competition; Minick and Morrisons tied. No one spoke, as one by one, each player teed off. The three contenders’ tee shots landed in a row, each laying approximately 100 yards off the par-five green. B. Morrison chucked her second shot, choking under pressure, taking herself out of the competition.
R. Morrison landed 9 feet from the hole; Minick landed 11 feet back. Both had the same line on the putt. Minick, going first, missed the cup by mere feet. A hush fell as R. Morrison prepared for his shot, all the pressure on him. If he made it, the Morrisons would get to keep the Minick Cup for another year.
“Come on, Honey! You got this!”
“They’re going to start dropping in,” R. Morrison repeatedly said throughout the round. All day, his putts fell short. Pensive and uncertain, B. Morrison held her breath, praying silently.
R. Morrison’s words proved prophetic! Under intense pressure, his final put did indeed “drop-in.” By one stroke, R. Morrison won the Minick Cup.
Each morning Beth Morrison starts her day with a cup of coffee and her Bible. She thought the Bible was hard to read, but she found doing a little bit each day made it easy. Each morning, with her coffee, she draws deeper into her relationship with God and His word. Morrison shares her love of God, the Bible and coffee in her daily devotion, Honest Reflections: A Quiet Moment with God. This daily devotional will help you draw closer to God. You will learn to apply His word to your life, all while enjoying a morning cup of coffee.
Honest Reflections was started in 2017 as a way for fledgling writer Morrison to share her love of God. As her boldness in sharing her faith increased, she began to write a daily devotion. “Talking about God with someone while having a cup of coffee is my favorite thing to do.”, she says. Honest Reflections is her way of sharing that love of rich conversation and coffee with others.
In 2019 the devotions focused on different topics. Each month explored a theme in the daily writings, helping followers learn more about themselves and God. In 2020, Morrison is taking her devotions in a new direction, as she pursues God’s leading into a new adventure. Following God’s prompting in her life, she’s incorporating more scripture-based content in her writing.
Each day will start with a Scripture that comes from the “Further Reading” section found at the bottom of the devotional. Daily readings will include an Old Testament reading, New Testament reading, Psalms and Proverbs. From those readings, the author will explore how to apply scripture to your life. A “Question of the Day,” will allow readers to focus their thoughts on one aspect of God’s love for them. Group discussions can be facilitated through the comments, either via the Facebook page or blog post. The devotions are designed as a simple way to connect with God, and others.
Morrison is committed to her life verses: “ ‘And you must love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV. She condenses the verses into a four-word mantra for her life, “Love God, love others.” “My prayer is that through my writings, I will help others come to know and love God as I have, completely and wholly.”, she says.
Make 2020 your year to grow closer to God. Don’t be intimidated by Scripture any longer. Begin each day with your favorite cup of coffee, God’s word and fresh inspiration from Honest Reflections. Whether you read it once a week, a couple of times a week or every day, you are sure to find something to help grow you closer to God. You can have the devotional delivered to your email, find it on Facebook or read the blog. Let Honest Reflections daily devotionals help you grow deeper in your faith than ever. Don’t wait, sign up today.
Two award winning coaches have breathed life into kids tennis in the Hampton Road’s area over the past five years with their program. Hampton Roads Tennis Academy (HRTA), a partnership between two women, is the reason once empty tennis courts are now being used.
Martha Cuevas, a retired teaching assistant from Coventry elementary school in Yorktown, VA, asked Beth Morrison to take a coaching class with her. That invitation was the seed that eventually grew into HRTA. In Cuevas’s words, “I started coaching because of my love of tennis. I want to help grow the sport.” Harvey Robbins, tennis pro at Huntington Park Tennis Center, gave Cuevas her first taste of coaching. “I started helping Harvey with his red ball class. This motivated me to take the USTA training for 10 and under.” This is the training she invited Morrison to attend, that is how their partnership started.
Cuevas Teaching Red Ball Class
The partner’s have just completed
their fifth year of coaching together.
Cuevas said they realized early on the need for the program in their
community. “As we started coaching different age groups, especially the older kids,
it really became apparent that if we could get the kids interested at an early
age, the skill level of kids going into high school and beyond would be so much
better.” In their first year they taught
only 10 and Under kids, by year two they had expanded to middle school kids as
well. Cuevas said, “Additional training through PTR (Professional Tennis
Registry) has also helped us feel more
confident in teaching children and adults.” As of today, HRTA offers classes to all ages,
from 5 to adult.
Cuevas and Morrison Coaching
In addition, the duo has formed a
partnership with York County Parks
and Recreation Department. Classes
are available January thru February for school age children on Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings. The coaches transform Dare elementary school’s basketball
court into indoor tennis courts with the use of volleyball nets, allowing
students to continue working on skills throughout the winter months. Cuevas and Morrison teach weekly summer camps
for the county during the summer.
Cuevas said, when asked why she loves coaching; “I really feel proud when our students master skills and you can see their excitement. They continue lessons with us or improve enough that they move on to more advanced instructions.” The partners work with other tennis coaches in the area to promote all opportunities available to the kids, not just what HRTA offers. The company’s mission as stated on their website explains why: “Our mission is to grow youth tennis on the Peninsula and beyond.”
York county Tennis Camp Participants
The kid’s favorite question according to Cuevas, “When can a I play a match?” Cuevas said HRTA is accomplishing their mission; “The most important thing we want our kids to have is fun! Tennis is a fun sport that can be played a lifetime, but if kids aren’t having fun, they won’t come back.” At the end of class, back.” At the end of class, Cuevas said she often hears the kids say, “The lesson is over already!” Cuevas continued, “This confirms we’ve done our job for the day, the kids had fun.”
In 2015 Cuevas and Morrison received
the “Dr. Herman N. Nielsen Award,” the first women to receive it. The award is given by the Peninsula Tennis
Patrons Association (PTPA), a non-profit
organization that runs tennis tournaments in the Hampton Roads Area. The
Neilson award is given annually to those who help promote tennis on the
peninsula. Cuevas and Morrison received the award for their work with 10
and Under kids in their second year of coaching.
Karen Bradley, a realtor for Coldwell Banker, was a first-time vendor – but she has also attended as a bride in the past. Bradley said, “I’m surprised they allow realtor booths, when I attended as a bride I don’t remember any being here.” Vendors ranged from photographers, hair salons, wedding venues and wellness centers. Kaity Collins, a licensed master esthetician was also a first-time vendor. Collins said, “We’ve had a steady stream of traffic up until the Bridal show started.” KKWellness, a weight loss and nutrition center, were also in attendance with hopes to help brides-to-be fit into their dress when their day arrived.
Copper Coupe & Company Mobile Bar was the only mobile bar in attendance. Stephanie Rook, a bride-to-be at their booth, liked the idea. Rook said, “This would be fantastic if I was doing an outdoor wedding.” The company has converted a 1987 bumper pool horse trailer into a mobile bar. If hired, the fully stocked bar, comes with “only the best bartenders in the business,” according to the company website. Their bar had a constant stream of people asking the representatives for more information. To complement Cooper Coupe and Company’s bar, Signature DJs was an adjacent vendor ready to provide musical needs for an outdoor wedding.
At 3 p.m., midway through the expo the fashion show by McCellis Brides began. Brides in all styles of gowns paraded before a packed crowd, standing room only. Their ensembles included no jewelry and accessories as noted by one bride. People began to wander in and out as the show continued. Lasting less than an hour, the place began to empty once it was over. A brief video of the show can be found below.
The show did have a plethora of design ideas. Fluttering Flowers provided a centerpiece and table pavilion for floral ideas. They offer everything from bouquets, centerpieces and boutonnieres. Their motto, “Let us flutter your flowers on your favorite day,” describes their desire to make weddings perfect. Dream Cake Bakery offered samplings of their cakes, 3 of the flavors are free, all others come at an extra cost. And to help pull it all together, event planners like Events by Beckie were on hand to offer assistance.
Rook, a bride planning for a June 2020 wedding was highly disappointed. Her quest to find the perfect accessories were not helped with the meager offerings of the show. In Rook’s words, “Be prepared with pre-printed bride information, all I’ve done is fill out forms.” Ultimately, her goal of finally finding the perfect pair of shoes was denied. Rook said, “It’s just an information gathering convention for bridal vendors.” Rook did appreciate the realtors she met. She said, “This really helps get the ball rolling on buying a house.” Her fiancée and her are first time home buyers, just beginning the search for a new home. She made realtor contacts and her email will be full of wedding promotions for the next 6 months as she finalizes her special day.
To sit down and have coffee with Shanda Piggott is like a breath of fresh air. Her genuine love of God and people are evident in everything she does. Her smile makes you want to know what she is thinking. I found out what is behind the smile, it’s her love of God. Raised in Williamsburg, VA she didn’t have a typical church upbringing, in fact she only went to church when her grandmother took her. A grandmother she now cares for on her days off from Camp Peary, where she is a police officer. Those Sunday’s were the only seeds God needed to plant to grow the warrior for Him she has become.
Shanda during her time a Children’s Leader
Shanda was 11 when she accepted Jesus into her life and was baptized. In her words, she “knew what that meant but didn’t understand it.” Her true knowledge of the Lord started later in life. Her belief in God was solid, but she didn’t follow His leading until after college. Her journey led her to working at a juvenile detention center where she found a Bible.
King David is her favorite hero. He was the
one that would draw her back to the stories of him found within the pages of
the historic text. Those stories led to
a simple prayer, “God love me like you loved King David.” God answered.
First, she noticed her friendships changing, growing more distant. She felt God telling her He would develop “new
friendships” for her. The relationship
she was in fell apart. Approximately six months after praying that prayer, she
was introduced to Bible
Study Fellowship (BSF).
Her journey was just beginning.
Shanda’s spiritual mentor, the pastor’s wife of her church is who invited her to BSF, an international women’s comprehensive Bible study. They were studying Genesis that first study 8 years ago, God confirmed, this was her new beginning. Another 6 months goes by, she is asked to lead in the children’s ministry. She accepts God’s call and serves faithfully for the next five years, the picture above is from this time period. Just at the point when she is thinking of taking a break from ministry, this single mom of 2 incredible boys, gets another call. This time she is asked to consider being a Substitute Teaching Leader to the 400 women who attend the Wednesday morning Sunday. She once again accepts God’s call on her life, and steps into her new role. A role she continues to hold after 2 years. The role in which I met her. My first day at BSF she was the speaker, her talk was on Acts. Her passion was evident as she taught us the lessons learned in the early church.
Her leadership impacts others as well, part of her role as STL is helping grow other leaders. Her passion for what she does was evidenced when I asked my group leader about Shanda. Marybeth Antcliff told me she is “amazed at how effortless she makes it look. She’s a natural, but also very prepared and very professional. She is a great listener and is good at making the people around her feel important.” When I asked Bebe Dove, Teaching Leader of BSF for one word to describe Shanda, without hesitation she said, “Authentic.” Caroline Mellen, a BSF member, enjoys Shanda’s speaking. In her words, Shanda is “Confident. She speaks not through her notes, she speaks with her heart.”
Our time together was short, but our conversation was
rich. Her love of the Lord, her passion
for following Him are contagious. One
can’t help but feel His presence when you sit with Shanda for a few minutes. She sees Him in all of life’s events. She watches closely for signs of His works in
her life. She understands, He’s in the
small things as well as the big things.
She devotes her two days off a week to BSF and her role as leader. When I asked her for an interview, she
willingly agreed, even though she had no idea who I was. She has a heart for the Lord that is rare to
find. The Lord is continuing to love her
like He loved King David, the evidence is in her life.
Beth Morrison 