In Memory Of...

On Feb. 5, 2008 a killer tornado ripped through Macon County Tennessee. Two days later, on Feb. 7, 2008, another tragedy hit the town of Lafayette, Tn.


The Rev. Michael Welch, his wife Julie and two of their children Jesse and Hannah were killed in a car wreck during their attempt to minister to the victims of the tornado.

Michael was the pastor of Lafayette United Methodist Church. As you could imagine his congregation was devastated. As a church member I can't imagine losing my pastor much less his family.

As a family member I know the heartbreak. You see Michael was my first cousin. He was eleven years older than me. We hadn't seen each other much due to living far apart. We had recently kept in touch by email and I received my last email from him that morning only hours before his death.

I cherish the many funny stories I have heard all my life about Michael. Especially how my Daddy used to call him " Michael the Great the Bald Headed Ape".

His family was very sweet and I wish I could have known them better. They were indeed a unit. It is a blessing that God saw fit to take them all home together.

Please say a prayer for my family, especially my aunts Kitty and Pat and Julie's grown son Garrison.

Tragedy is not marked on your calendar. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it. I can't imagine how people get through it without knowing the love of God.

I am thankful to know that my family had a relationship with Christ and I will see them again in heaven.


Leigh Anne


"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away". Revelations 21:4

When All Else Is Gone!!

It seems almost every thing we see on the news lately involves money. Either we are hearing about people not getting a pay check because their company is closing or we hear of the financial investors in this country who have swindled millions from their clients.

Some politicians are being impeached while others are withdrawing their names from nominations all in the name of money.

Athletes are making millions for playing a game they love and would have played for a lot less if the middle man ( their agent) wasn't making a percentage.

What good is it all when you are in prison for embezzling money or a professional career ends due to an injury?

Don't get me wrong. I am no Saint giving every penny I make to the needs of others. I love to shop with the best of 'em. Money is a necessity for us to live in our culture and can be a whole lot of fun when there is a little "fun money" left over.

I started thinking about all this today and decided that if I lost "everything" what would I still possess that could not be stripped away.

My salvation is sealed!! It has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus. No disaster or drop in the stock market can take that away.

I would still have my faith, though I'm sure it would be tested.

What else would I need?

Wisdom!!

I desire to gain wisdom from God and not to depend on my own understanding. Oh my that has gotten me in enough trouble. I could write a book on that!


I read Proverbs 3 today and was blown away by it's instruction. It is like it's own little book for success! Of course depending on your definition of success.

Read it today. I hope you find the blessing in it that I did!


Leigh Anne


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight". Proverbs 3: 5-6

Sleep!! Yeh! Ye Ha! Hallelujah!!!

Good Morning!

And a good morning it is. For sometime now (months and months or longer) I have not been sleeping well. Either I couldn't fall asleep or I would wake up multiple times a night. Of course at 43 nature is calling at LEAST once a night.

I didn't realize how bad it was until I got a whole night of uninterrupted sleep last night. I don't like to take alot of medicine, but last night I decided to take a sleep aid. Oh my goodness! It is possible to wake up feeling rested. It has been so long I had forgotten.

I have been blaming my poor husband for his tossing and turning but in fact I may be the " THIEF OF SLEEP"!

Well since I can't and won't take a sleep aid the rest of my life, I quess it is time for a little common sense action. I'm going to be more careful with my caffine intake. Just coffee in morning.

Any suggestions???


I am so thankful that though we may lose sleep at night or feel run down and tired during the day, we can depend on God for strength to get us through. He does provide the ultimate peace and rest for our lives.



"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". Matthew 11: 28-29



Leigh Anne

Forgiveness

What!!!!!!

Forgiveness must be one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the life of Christians or I quess I should say some Christians. Why is it that we whom have experienced the greatest forgiveness of all, that being through the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, can often harbor so much resentment toward others.

An infection in the body, left untreated, will eventually get into the bloodstream. Once this happens it is very hard to treat and often leads to death. Likewise, our hearts can be attacked by the nasty virus of "unforgiveness". Not treating this virus can lead to a bitterness that will consume us. While it may be deep inside us in the beginning, if left untreated it will someday surface and be obvious to others.

Pain and disappointment come to us any various ways in life. We must ask God to help us deal with our heartbreaks and let Him lead us toward forgiving those who hurt us.

There is nothing like the breath of fresh air you inhale when you find it in your heart to forgive someone. Whenever possible tell that person you forgive them and let the healing begin!


"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you" Matthew 6:14

Leigh Anne

My Heart Sings Because...

All my life I have loved music and especially singing. While I am not a "singer" I have been blessed over the years to be a church choir member. Many friends, especially my Chattanooga nurse friends , can testify to my ability to finish someone's statement with a familiar song. My oldest daughter often ....rolled her eyes....at the sound of my youngest daughter and me singing harmony with commercials on TV. Oh she did it too, just tried to be a little less obvious.

Through life circumstances I have found myself in many valleys especially over the last ten years. Though my song may have been less audible it was still there. There was nothing better than to feel that song begin to once again surface as God lifted me from the despair I was experiencing.

A more recent event in my life (not in the valley) was marrying my sweet husband Eric. Along with marriage and a new address also came a new church. I never realized how hard it would be to attend a new church. The church is awesome but I found this "shyness" I never new existed. ( ok I know that must shock some).

I so wanted to join the choir and knew that God wanted me to but I couldn't bring myself to talk to the choir director about it. There were many missed opportunities ( all my doings and excuses). I felt many tugs from the Holy Spirit and the last tug was entering the church a few Sunday night ago and hearing the choir practincing " I am on a Journey" from the same book my Ider Baptist Choir used. I was so exited. I attended choir practice the next Sunday afternoon and sang in the Choir for the first time Yesterday morning.

Now, once again, My Heart Sings .... and I can praise my Lord!!!!!

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual song. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord..." Ephensians 5:19

Leigh Anne