Beyond A Clear Blue Morning And A Legend

Those of you who know me will not be surprised at this, but I have to say a word about Dolly Parton. She was my favorite! I mean, since early childhood, which takes me way back. But then some of these memories formed some traditions in our family. And it all started with Dolly. For a heartfelt story, join me, friends. Welcome to Hope Blvd. I'm Geri Carlson. I am your host, and this is episode number 12. An even dozen. What will I say about episode 13? I mean, is that a baker's dozen? Does anyone even know what that is anymore? I don't I don't know. Anyway, thank you so much for being here. It really does mean a lot to me. I love spending this time with you. Now, if you would like to receive my brand spankin' new newsletter, that's right. I'll leave a link in the show notes for you to join my email list. Or you can go to https://www.hopeblvd.org /contact and leave me a little message there with your email. I am excited to share this with you. It is not a carbon copy of the Hope Blvd show. It's a different flavor. And it's a short read. I mean, less than three minutes! Come on. I hope you'll sign up for that and be amongst the first to know anything noteworthy and just, you know, some thoughts that I have for the week. Lord knows I have more thoughts. That's for sure. All right, there's still lots to talk about, so let's get started.

Music and Playlists

The other day I called for a car service to take me to an appointment. When the driver came to pick me up, I commented on the radio station he was listening to, and I got the impression he was somewhat particular about the music he chose to play. He stated it actually was a playlist from his phone. Our conversation about playlists was slightly curtailed when I made the comment that it was sad news to hear about Dolly Parton passing away. The gentleman agreed and said he had been hearing about it in various places. I proceeded to tell him about my exuberant love and respect for Dolly. I then began to share story after story after story. Not just stories I had heard about her, but how Dolly was an influence on me personally. I have been a huge fan for decades. I mean, well, me and everybody else, I know, but I mean since elementary school. Fortunately for the driver, the trip was short-lived. He was a gracious listener, but I bet that driver was glad to finally reach our destination. Thank you, Tom.

Dolly and Nate Bergatze

Have you ever had anyone influence you, perhaps as a young person? How did that turn out? Was that person or people someone you continue to admire or respect? A lot of people can disappoint us. But Dolly wasn't one of those for me. However, I didn't have a personal relationship with her. I'm a loyal fan. That's it. I mean, we didn't do tea, you know? But we need to be careful not to put people on pedestals, especially when they're higher than God. Dolly was an extraordinary human being. I love that she knew who she was and she was honest about it. She was loving to basically everyone, it seems. Dolly was a hard worker with a keen business mind and an incredible work ethic. One of the things I loved about her most was her commitment to songwriting. She told her story and she told it well. Have you ever been asked that question? If you could choose just one or two people to have over for dinner, who would it be? That's easy for me. Jesus and Dolly. In that order, to be clear. Okay, and probably Nate Bergatze. I love to laugh, and Nate is hilarious. And assuming my husband Rob would be at this hypothetical gathering, we could be there all night. I can hardly imagine a dinner party like that. When I started this episode today, I thought I would be telling you about some amazing stories I have about Dolly. But even though I have a large selection of stories about her, many which would bore you the tears, I'm sure, this really isn't about Dolly at all. My heart wants to pay a beautiful tribute to her, especially for the influence she has had over generations.

Influencers

And a side note to all you self-proclaimed influencers out there, you become someone special when you live out a life that is loving, kind, truthful, and filled with integrity. You aren't an influencer merely because you say you are.

The Coat

As they started to get into the elementary school age, I would ask if they wanted a story or a song. It actually is funny as I think about it now. If they said a song, I often gave them two, and one would probably be Coat of Many Colors. I might even sing it from the next room as they were going to sleep. If they said they wanted a story, I might tell them a story about Coat of Many Colors. I laugh at that now. And if my adult kids are listening to this, they're rolling their eyes right now. Today, when my grandchildren spend the night, they usually want me to tell them a story. We often end with singing Coat of Many Colors. They know that story. They know what it means. And it's that story of love and selflessness and being blessed by God in ways that we might not consider to be rich, that has continued over generations in our family. Several years ago, we went to Dollywood, where I bought an ornament and you guessed it. It's a Coat of Many Colors ornament. Today, as a tradition I started after we had our first grandchild, when all our grandchildren are over at Christmas time, we place that ornament on the tree together and say a word or two about what it means. It unites us, it shares a story that is beautiful and loving and pure and long-lasting. It's the little things, and I love this so much.

Coping and Recovery

When I became ill in 2023 and became paralyzed, the next two years were focused on me getting out of the hospital, recovering from a year of paralysis, and getting our life back. Rob and I often say that we lost two years of our life. The truth is there was so much that was gained during those traumatic two years. We were so busy just trying to cope with what was happening. But we knew the presence of God was with us, knowing who our family is and to what extent they'll go to put their love into action and to know who are our true friends, especially during those two years. This is what life is all about.

Christmas and Traditions

In December 2024, I was mostly using a walker at that time. It was Christmas Eve. My oldest granddaughter said to me as if with some sense of urgency, Grandma, the Coat of Many Colors ornament! And the other grandchildren also seemed to have the same sense of importance placed on getting that ornament on the tree. The previous year they visited me in the hospital for Christmas. I was there for about eight months, and it became a new normal for them for a while to see me there. At their young ages, varying from age four to seven at that time. I would have expected them to forget about that ornament. But this was about more than an ornament or about Dolly. It was about tradition and values and love and being together and learning such things starting at a young age. Needless to say, that made my Christmas. I can't tell you what gifts I got that year, other than the gift of my grandchildren valuing, placing importance on and remembering what had become valuable to all of

Jesus Saves

us. It started with Dolly, but it really started with Jesus and his ultimate gift of love. A baby in a manger over 2,000 years ago. And there you have a little Christmas for you in the end of summer. That brings me to my faith take. If you want to know a love that is priceless, unconditional, and everlasting, pray to Almighty God, your creator, in the mighty name of Jesus, the ultimate gift, the creator of love. He is with you now through the Holy Spirit. Take a moment to talk with him, friend. If it's been a while, he'll love hearing from you. And if you've never spoken to God, it's never too late to start. And if you need someone to help you get started, reach out to me or to someone, especially if you know they are truly a Christian. They will be happy to sit with you as you talk with our Lord. Here's a promise from Almighty God, our Father in heaven. It comes from John 3.16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. When we take our final breath here on earth, that is the moment I'm living for. You may have heard me say this before, but I can hardly wait to see the face of Jesus. And for all he's done for me, I am truly grateful. And I just want to see him face to face to tell him so. So I don't just believe, I live my life as if. Do I always get it right? Heavens, no. But I wake up every morning and start anew.

Counseling and Coaching

I'm a counselor and a coach. If you're interested in working with me, I can help you move forward. Just go to my website at GeriCarlson.com /Contact and request a free 15-minute call to briefly share with me about your issue and to see if I'd be a good fit. There's more info on the website, and I'll leave a link in the show notes. I hope you're enjoying these episodes.

Podcaster Shout-Out

And hey, I want to give a big shout out to my friends at Practical Prepping. That's the podcast that is hosted by Mark and Krista. I love their show. And I encourage you to check them out. I'll leave a link in the show notes. Practical prepping is a show you didn't know you needed. And you're going to learn more about things that you can do that are practical around your home, whether there's a national crisis or a tornado, or maybe it's protection and safety. And there are so many things that they talk about that are just practical things to be prepared for. Go and check them out. You're going to get hooked on their show, though. All right. If you stop by, give them a good review and tell them I said hi. Practical Prepping.info. Thanks, friends.

Thanks for listening!

Thank you so much for listening all the way to the end. If you find this has been encouraging or helpful, please share this episode with someone. Remember to join my email list. The link is in the show notes. Until our paths meet again, make it a great day for you and someone else. And remember, friends, there is always hope. Always. Bye for now.