Wednesday, January 17, 2007

"The Past,
The Future,
And Today"


At church on Sunday, our parish minister had a wonderful quote for us all that just struck a chord within me.

He said:

"Yesterday is a cancelled check,
Tomorrow is a promissory note,
But today is ready cash."

"Wow!" I thought to myself (then jotted it down before I forgot the words). They really said something to me; they remind me that's what is in the past is over, it's not worth fretting over, and you can't change it. I can't spend my time wallowing in what should have or might have been.

And then the future holds great promise and it's something that can be redeemed with great things, so I need to look forward to it with excitement.

But, TODAY--that's what's really important. It's the only thing really that I can control. It's absolutely READY CASH for me to use right now. So, that's what I need to do--take advantage of today, make some memories, do some things that won't be filled with regret, reach out to someone, tell someone the words they need to hear, grow as a person. Do it TODAY!

Now, on that note . . .

I'd been wanting to do a Photo Retrospective of the year behind me. And since I'm talking a little bit about the past, the future, and today, this is as good a time as any (and besides, February is looming ahead of me so I need to do this while 2007 is still new!). So, I gathered some of my favorite photos from 2006 for you to enjoy.

(This was VERY hard to select, since I had probably between 200-300 from each month and at least 20 pictures that were really memorable for one reason or the other for each month. And, in fact, there are a lot of moments and events and memories that aren't showcased here--there's nothing from my birthday or Halloween or the girls' first day of school, for example. But, there's a lot of other great memories!)

From January, I have a picture from the infamous Bull Riding Experiment in Gatlinburg last year on New Year's Day (it was fun, and I laughed hysterically all the way through it, but boy did my thighs hurt for like 3 days afterwards!); and then a gorgeous picture in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains on that same trip . . .





From February, I have a picture of the girls during our annual Family Life Retreat at Camp Sumatanga. This is a special time every year with friends from church--the gorgeous outdoors, worship time, Bible studies, and some funny times playing games and doing Skit Night. (So excited that it's coming up again soon) . . .



From March, I have memories of both McKenna's and Sydney's birthdays (they are a day apart) The first is of McKenna, Scout, and I at Olive Garden for our bithday lunch (S is telling us she's 2); then one of my favorites from McKenna's party at the ice skating rink (14 kids and SO much fun; in this one, some of them are posing a graceful fall onto the ice!) . . .





From April, we first have probably my favorite family shot from the year; it's of us on Easter Sunday. And then of some of the kids from Delaney's class at a civil rights monument in Montgomery; a cool moment! . . .





From May, I have two pictures from our anniversary weekend in Mentone in the foothills of northern Alabama. DeSoto Falls was just gorgeous; and then Gary and I just had a wonderful time at the lodge we stayed at. Eleven years and going strong . . .





From June, I have yet another celebration (yes, we are ALL about celebrating in our family!). Delaney's birthday is in June and we celebrated with a fun Mall Scavenger Hunt party. The first pic is of some of them completing their final scavenger hunt task--choreographing and doing a dance on the upper level; the second pic is one of my favorites, of Gary and the girls lying on the ground outside Olive Garden (again!) waiting for our table . . .





From July, I share one of the photos of McKenna from her trip to Washington D.C. with Student Leadership University. Wish I could have been there with her, but she brought home lots of great pics . . .



From August, I have some snapshots of our wonderful vacation to Savannah and Tybee Island. Of Scout and I on the riverboat and a gorgeous sunrise shot (it pays to have a great photographer for a hubby) . . .





From September, I have some scenes from Delaney's season with the Thunderbolts softball team. She and Gary, and then her next to her first-ever 1st place tournament trophy (a very PROUD day!) . . .





From October, I have some pictures from our Fall Break trip to Disney World. The first is what i call part of the Dumbo Experience (a 45-minute wait for the one ride Scout was excited about; the she almost fell asleep because it was taking so long!; but, success in the end!), and then one that simply says it all--Cinderella's Castle-- . . .





From November, a picture of Sydney inside the giant inflatable pumpkin moon walk at the Pumpkin Patch. Boy, did that make her happy! And then, a special family portrait of the crew at my parents' house for Thanksgiving . . .



And from December, I have two photos that are probably familiar to you all since I had them on not too long ago (but I still love them!). The first is of Scout camped out in front of all of the gifts at Gary's parents' house (she was READY to unwrap something!) and of the girls acting silly during our Christmas picture photo shoot . . .





That was really fun . . . reliving just a few of the moments from 2006. Like it is the case every year, 2006 had its hard times and its challenging moments. But more than anything it had small moments that brought a lot of joy--and I am SO grateful for the fact that I was able to leave the problems of yesterday behind and focus on the JOY that I was experiencing in the TODAY!

As you are running around today doing whatever you do, try and keep the words from earlier in my post in mind . . .

Yesterday is a cancelled check,
Tomorrow is a promissory note,
But TODAY is READY CASH!!

Go spend some of that cash . . .

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post Cheryl! I am going to write that down in my book and try to remember that everyday! Great pictures too...thanks for sharing your 2006 with us! Have a great day!

Unknown said...

love that quote...might have to borrow it to share!!! and what a great year it looks like you had!!! it really makes one focus on the good and what really matters when you do it in retrospect...the stuff that doesn't matter just falls away!! have a great day!!

Aimeslee Winans said...

Cheryl, Sweet Cheryl! I finally made it around to my blogroll babes in a day, ROFL. I am moving you up on my list cuz you leave me comments and I want to make sure I read and comment here! So much going on with you! Dizzying! Love the room, my DD did the CD thing and it really reflects the low lighting. Love your layouts, you go girl! And, your 2006 photos kick butt. You are so efficient. :-)

I'll do 6 weird things about me so you can tag people....

Lara Neves said...

Really great idea to do the year in review like that. It is hard to narrow down those pictures, isn't it?

Love that quote...really hits home. :)

Unknown said...

"Yesterday is a cancelled check" - Actually I prefer to think of yesterday as being a used or cashed cheque/check ;)

Your pictures are all very exceptional and this one is absolutely no different. Each one tells a story and a picture does indeed tell a thousand words. WTG with this post :)

Anonymous said...

wow, I love that quote and all the photos.

Unknown said...

It was soooo coool going through the pictures from the year like that...

You have WAY too much time on your hands to go through all of those pictures!

TJ said...

Great pics and I loved the quote!
:-D

Cheryl Wray said...

Heather--I love that quote too! A good thing to remember every day!
Jessi--I think that quote would be great on a scrapbook page! I loved looking through all those pics again!
Aimes--I love to come to your blog. It always has great stuff! (Shucks, I thought I had an original idea with the CDs on the wall. LOL)
Lara--Yes, very hard to narrow down pics when I take SO many!!
Gareth--Thanks G! I guess you can be sweet too . . . lol
Toya--SO good to see your name here today!!! I can't wait to go see what's on your blog!!!

Cheryl Wray said...

Amanda--The CD slideshow is a great idea for capturing your pictures from the year! Fun!
G--I was excited about putting all those pics together!! We had a lot of good times, didn't we?
Tammy--Thanks!!

Missy Glave said...

What a wonderful way to share your photos and memories!

scrapperjen said...

GREAT quote!
Your pictures are amazing! Thank you for sharing them. You have a BEAUTIFUL family!

Anonymous said...

First off great pictures, will you adopt me?? haha

Secondly I will take my cash in 20's

Phats said...

Yikes it posted me as anonymous, that was me sorry :)

Anonymous said...

That was most beautiful while listening to "Held" It makes you feel very lucky to have a family to share wonderful times with.

Aimee (on our way)

Andy said...

all the pics are great but i love the bull riding pic. cades cove is great. we went to gatlinburg on our honeymoon and it so pretty there. i'm been talking to my hubby about going to tybee island too. how was that? thanks for sharing your year in review. :)

the not so "new" mom on the blog said...

Howdy Doody!!! That was an awesome post Cheryl (as always). Just love the pics!!!!

Barb said...

Hello Cheryl,

Thank you so much for stopping by my place. Yes, my little grandbaby is a real cutie patootie!

My goodness, what wonderful photos. And what a great idea, a year in retrospection.

The quote at the beginning of this post is wonderful - a very good way of looking at things.

And can I just say, I love, love that you have that music video in your sidebar. I need to figure out how to do that.

Thank you again. I really appreciate your visit - come back again soon! :-)

Cheryl Wray said...

Missy--Thanks!! I love photos!
Scrapperjen--I actually am quite proud of my family and think they are beautiful too! (But I'm biased! LOL)
Phats (otherwise known as Anonymous)-- My girls said they would LOVE to have a tumbling older brother! Come on down South to join us!!
Andy--The bull riding was a HOOT!!! So much fun!! We LOVE Tybee, although it is very different from Gulf Shores, Panama City, any place like that. Very small, and much older (not real commercialized), but it's really a cool place! (If you decide to go, email me and I will give you all sorts of details!)
New Mom--Hey girl!!! Glad you enjoyed the post!
Barb--Welcome to my blog!! Great to have you!! I love putting videos on here too; sometime just a certain song "speaks" to me and needs to be here!!

savvycityfarmer said...

Inspiration is flowing everywhere

Nancy said...

I really loved your picture review of the year... what wonderful memories. I loved the quote... thanks for sharing.

Mississippi Songbird said...

Great Post! Thanks fr those words.

**hugs**

Nancywithajones said...

HI CHERYL thanks for stopping by my blog! A FELLOW ALABAMA ian (however you say that...) what part Alabama do you live? We have lived her 2 years actually. YOu seem so familiar to me your name and all Im sorry if I am being a dunce and have met you... I have been a sick woman so forgive me haha! I LOVE THAT saying your parishoner told you and I needed to hear that after the day I HAD YESTERDAY ::good gracious alive did I:: I have more older posts with similar stories without the errr.. insertion of beads into noses part though.... but I like to reflect comically on my daughter and her antics for future embarrassment on her behalf hehe Thank you again and I JUST LOVE your blog! I am going to add you into my daily blog roll I check out! thanks again for stopping by!

Phats said...

If I get my own room, I am moving in!

Tell the girls though I am very overprotective, so i will be the chaperone on their dates ;) Any cheerleaders in the family, guessing no?

~Telah said...

Cheryl, I very much enjoyed your year in review through your pictures. That was such a good idea.

Anonymous said...

Love your post today!

Crazy Working Mom said...

Great post! The pictures were awesome. Thanks for the look back. : )

Robyn said...

OHHHH that quote gave me chills, thanks CHERYL! I loved looking at your pictures.

Anonymous said...

What a great post! I am saving that quote! Thanks for sharing a glimpse into what makes you happy, you have an amazing family

AngelConradie said...

thats a fabulous post cheryl- you had one helluva busy year!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the pictures, especially the waterfall and Cinderella Castle!

Michelle said...

what a great photo recap! It is hard to pick only several photos out of a whole year of memories!

Anonymous said...

Wow...truly a phenomenal post! I'm glad I took my time reading it and looking at your pictures! What a great quote to go with this very cool post!

Misty said...

Wow! All I can say is Gareth was right - How truly blessed you are! Great pictures and thank you so much for the wonderful smiles and all around great feeling I had reading your latest comment! It was truly beautiful! God Bless,