Jodie's Journey

I have spent the majority of my day today with my Grandmama Roberson.  As I type this, she is resting comfortably beside me. She is sleeping for the first time in 3 nights.  We are listening to instrumental lullabies by Hillsong. What a precious, precious time this is. She is a shining example of hope, love, faithfulness, and determination.  Grandma and I spent the majority of our time today talking about memories, our love of family, and our belief in God.  Grandma is ready. She is tired and weak.  She's ready to see my  granddaddy, but most of all, her Lord and Savior.  Her body is worn out.  In her 92 years on this Earth, she has learned the value of family, the reward of hard work, the joy of children, and how the love of a Savior changes lives.  I firmly believe that God heard the prayers of my faithful grandma when I was so ill.  The love of a grandmother is like no other love.  It's genuine and true.  She told me t...

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer. ~Jean de La Fontaine The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights. ~Giotto de Bondone Through the process of being ill and recovery, I have discovered what true friendship really is.  It is a love beyond measure.  It is a longing for health and companionship.  It is a deep and abiding feeling that is such a rarity.  I am fortunate to have 4 very good friends.  Most people only have one, but God has given me such a precious gift.   Two of these precious friends are childhood friends.  Paula and Karen have been by me for years.  There were times we drifted apart.  Life happened. Marriages, children, careers, school, but in the tough times I looked up and there they were. I love you both and I am so very grateful for you and the light you shine.  Both of you are outstanding women.  God loving and God fearing ladies that know the value of ...

Satan’s goal is to create an atmosphere of fear and doubt.  He seems to be doing this a lot lately in our schools.  Our children are becoming targets. We will overcome with diligence and the belief that good always triumphs over evil.  As a teacher, I take the safety and comfort of my children very seriously.  As a matter of fact, the relationship I build with them and their parents is my number one priority.  The learning will come with trust.  I learned a long time ago, if they trust you, they will love you.  If they love you, they will learn from you. I have no doubt that if my children were threatened at school, I would die for them.  I love them that much.  I also have no doubt, if you ask any one of my children if they trust me to protect them, they would say that they do.             All of the madness going on now is scary for parents and children.  Things will not get...

Always, always, be your best. We never know whose life our story is changing.  Life has been hard on me over the last 18 or so months.  I’ve been on the edge of death, but while I was standing there on the edge I heard the many encouraging voices of my family, friends, strangers, doctors, nurses, and therapists.  They drew me back into the light. I had every opportunity to give up. Several times death knocked on the door of my heart, but I just had too much to give to stop trying.  I had Megan and my children, whom I love so very much.  A week or so ago, I received a phone call from the Brody School of Medicine.  The lady on the other end of the line explained to me that there is a program called “Teacher Leaders” where residents choose a patient that has impacted them the most over the last year. They call these patients “teacher leaders” because the patient becomes the teacher for these young doctors.  To my surprise, TWO of these awesome doctors...

Memories of Aunt Belinda January 24, 2018 On Saturday, January 20, I wrote this tribute to Aunt Belinda on my blog. JodieRoberson@blogspot.com I spent the morning looking at poems about grief and loss and how to cope. I could find nothing that satisfied me, nothing that was a fitting tribute to you, my Aunt Belinda. My mind is flooded with memories of your laugh, your smile, and all you were.   You raised two awesome men. Both are hard workers with a love of family and friends.   You showed them how to love, fiercely. Your devotion and caring nature inspired me as I was growing up.   I was always so excited to see you.   I knew seeing you meant big hugs, potato salad, and home-made key lime pies. You always saw the good in people. Even though life threw some great big punches at you, you didn’t quit.   You always took another step.   You always got back up. I have always seen myself as “a lot like Aunt Belinda”. After all, we both are the p...

A Tribute to My Aunt Belinda      I spent my morning looking at poems about grief and loss and how to cope.  I could find nothing that satisfied me. Nothing that was a fitting tribute to you, my Aunt Belinda.        My mind is flooded with memories of your laugh, your smile, and all you were.  You raised two awesome men. Hard workers with a love of family and friends.  You showed them how to love, fiercely.  Your devotion and caring nature inspired me as I was growing up.  I was always so excited to see you. I knew seeing you meant big hugs, potato salad, and home-made key lime pies.  You always saw the good in people. Even though life threw some great big punches at you, you didn’t quit. You always took another step. You always got back up. I have always seen myself as “a lot like Aunt Belinda”. After all, we both are the petite ones with the fine, straight hair. We love to read and love to laugh. ...

I’m usually a go all out, push forward, don’t stop kind of girl.  Oh my goodness, it hit me like a ton of bricks this morning:  I have GOT to set some limits.  Over Christmas break and during this snow, all I did was eat, eat, eat. While I was sick, I was unable to eat or drink. I longed for anything. I felt so deprived and sad. Eating is a comfort for me. I have always struggled with my weight and body image. Food is an addiction for me. It always has been. I have used food, in the past, as a way to sooth whatever was happening in my life at the time: a test, a breakup, death of a loved one, divorce, boredom, financial stress… There are so many things. Over the last few months, I have let my “eating to cope” get out of hand.  Today, I know I have to set limits.  I “choose” to make better decisions about the things I put into my body.  I “choose” to live better. I “choose” to set limits.