gracemama1432

Siesta Summer Bible Study

2010-06-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to hearing from each of you! I am very excited about Beth Moore's selection of Kelly Minter's Ruth study this summer. With many gals having gone through this study in early spring at Clarke-Venable, it will be fantastic to hear the parallels and insights from those gals as well as the enlightenment of the gals that are seeing the study for the first time.

Whatever your point of entrance on this journey...we are ALL in for a great ride! Let's go, siestas!!

Blueberries and blessings!

2010-06-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

Today I opened my door to a couple, who have been married 54 years in September. They came bearing gifts...home-grown, hand-picked blueberries. With the time approaching 2 p.m. and in the heat of the day, my first reaction was to offer each a glass of sweet tea.

From there, a delightful time ensued...this couple began to share of their first meeting. It seems that he was older than she and was on a GI initiative that gave him an opportunity to take night classes. She and a girlfriend were taking a typing class...the only two girls in this particular class with these GIs.

On break he and she met...later he asked someone to ask for her name. She wrote it on a piece of paper. During that week, he tried to find her on two different occasions to no avail.

At the next class meeting, he asked her to the movies and they agreed that they should meet in a central location so he could "find" her. One year later they married.

She says that she loves sharing...it took her only one class to get her degree...her MRS degree, that is. 54 years...and counting. Blueberries and blessings...what a visit!!

Maybe One Day

2010-02-08T22:11:00.000-08:00

When the girls were young and very settled in what they knew as home, life was beginning to change as they knew it, surrounded by family and friends. One particular day, I decided we needed some "girl time."

Their daddy was involved in the transitioning process, and we were not quite ready to share the details with the girls. One of the greatest babysitters in the world had dressed the girls alike (thank you, Jenn) and I was to pick them up and head to Mobile where we would each get our nails done (their idea...PLEASE, Mama). As we arrived at the nail shop, it was obvious others had getting their nails done on their list; however, one sweety put us on the list, and asked us to come back a little while later.

Our next destination was Cracker Barrel, the girls loved that place. It was such a busy day even in mid-afternoon. The girls were playing checkers and "checking in" from time to time. Because, our day had been flip-flopped, we were just up for desserts, but we spurged!!

When, our order arrived...the girls joined me, and we did what we would always do...we bowed and asked God to bless it. Yum...the sundaecakes/chocolate tasted delicious!! The girls proceeded to play some more...it was very relaxing.

And, then, the strangest thing happened, I asked for our ticket. And, the waitress said something that I will always cherish. She said there is no ticket. Someone saw you and your two girls praying, and it blessed their Christmas...so they paid it.

What that person did not know. I was very unsettled at that moment in my life. I knew God had called my husband to ministry. I knew he was struggling with call. The possible sale of a third generation prosperous business, etc. And, I knew, that disobedience was getting more costly, as each day passed.

I needed the reassurance that God knew where I was and He was still patient. So to the person who was obedient that day to encourage through a gift...I hope to meet you...

Maybe One Day...

Dad and Cents

2010-02-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

We had a family outing to the Bass Pro Shop recently, and as I was on the shooting range, there was a little tike next to me, who had obviously ran out of time/coins, etc.

The priceless words I heard, "Dad, do you have any cents?" There was no answer....louder and more pronounced, "Dad, DO YOU HAVE ANY CENTS?

It was priceless.

Kids say the most memorable things.

Winter Wonderland in the South

2009-12-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

Last night was "date" night. We left for Pearl, MS early. As we were leaving the theater the threat of snow was upon us. After eating a delicious meal, we exited the restaurant to find the snow had begun. Traveling from Pearl to home was delightful! As we pulled up into the driveway, we positioned the headlights of the car to see the snow coming down and "scanned" the radio dials to find Christmas carols playing. What a great memory! Later, we found out it was Houston, TX's earliest snow ever...a White Christmas in the South.

The Source2

2009-11-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

The next night, the solar lamps continued to be dark...I was mystified! There were no directions...so I began to investigate. As I took the top piece apart. I found that there was a tab of paper preventing a "connection" between the energy source and the light.

So, too...is sin...

The solar lamps are shining bright tonight!

Opposites Attract

2009-11-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

When my daughter was three years old, I was introduced to the Personalities. Such a refreshing simplicity! My was I trying to "parent" her for one personality, when in fact, she was exactly the opposite!

When her sister came along...what an awakening, that was an opposite!

But did they ever enhance one another!

The Source

2009-11-15T20:22:00.000-08:00

I had purchased some solar lamps for the walkway outside. So tonight I placed them outside after dark (the only time I had to do so).

At this point, passerbyers would say they don't work.

You and I know...they haven't had opportunity to be connected to the Source of Light...

A Lesson Learned

2009-11-15T20:07:00.000-08:00

I was very close to my grandfather who died of lung cancer. I was eleven at the time of his death.

He had two lakes on his property. One day, as he was walking with me, I stepped close to the edge of the water. He quickly said, "there are some bugs that will get all over you, right there."
I quickly stepped back.

Years had passed and I was married and visiting my father and mother who had bought my grandfather's home and land. My daddy and I were walking around the lakes, so similar to the day I walked it, as a child, with my grandfather.

I asked, "Dad, what kind of bugs were near the water?" He looked at me with a grin and said, "Why do you ask?" Eyeing him, I replied, "Because PaPaw told me as a little girl that I had to stay away from that (pointing) place right there because of this unique bug." As those words left my lips I knew...I had learned a lesson...

There were no bugs...but there was a wise grandfather who knew he had a very curious granddaughter and he knew that he would not be around long to watch over me. So he gave me a life lesson...

Stay away from the water...

I love my grandfather...and my dad...

Grief Lesson #3

2009-11-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

Presently, I work with a gal whose name is exactly matched to the name of my deceased friend's daughter. Each day I am reminded to lift my dear friend's family up in prayer.

She has been gone fourteen years.

I continue to heal...

Grief Lesson #2

2009-11-15T20:00:00.001-08:00

At a second job, after our move, I walked into a teaching position. On the very front row, there was a student who could have been a twin to my lost friend's daughter. I had held my friend's daughter while who stepfather came to share the news of the fatal accident of her mother. The seventeen year old had so much to walk through...alone...

It was as if our incredible Heavenly Father was ushering me to constantly lift my friend's daughter up in prayer.

Continuing to press the need to have a healthy grief healing...

Grief Lesson #1

2009-11-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

In the days after losing a very close friend, I was looking forward to our move. a welcomed relief, actually. By moving two states away, I could forget the loss. It just hurt too much.

That is not what happened. At every turn there was someone that reminded me of my dear friend. Similar names with maybe two letters off, etc. For example, Dianne Witt and Dianne DeWitt

It was before me to have a healthy healing. To accept what I could not change and to move on...

Hold You

2009-11-15T19:50:00.001-08:00

When our oldest was little...she would hold her hands up to us and want to be held...

We would ask, "do you want me to hold up?"

The pattern was set...

When she wanted us to hold her...she would say, "hold you, hold you."

As first time parents, we learned a great deal!

A Hectic Day

2009-11-15T19:40:00.001-08:00

Have you ever noticed, when you don't have time for something else to happen? It does???

What do you find yourself doing?

Personally, I just settle it, immediately. I identify that there is adversity in the midst of an already difficult situation and claim that...."this, too, shall pass."

False Positives

2009-11-15T18:41:00.000-08:00

In my third pregnancy, I was older and "fell into the age group" to have the "tri-screen" test. You guessed it, I failed it. I found myself on the roller coaster ride that women face, when the results lead professionals to think there must be something wrong with the pregnancy. This was at my thirteenth week of pregnancy. My husband and I were advised to go upstairs in the hospital/clinic for counseling. The counseling was to assist us in the decision making process of continuing the pregnancy or not. Determined that the One who was the Creator could be the One who determined the health of our baby, my husband and I decided to go home without the counseling and to meet with The Counselor ourselves.

At full term, our son was born healthy. After several hours had passed from his birth, I finally asked someone to tell me, if I should be concerned for my son's life and informed them of my earlier report.

My questions were met with incredible disbelief that we had been taken down the road leading to such "crisis" thinking... Another false positive bit the dust...and we were very grateful!

I Heard You the First Time

2009-11-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

With my first pregnancy, I was still working in our family owned hardware store where my husband's eighty-nine year old grandfather would sit behind the counter and continue the third generation personal service climate. Between customers in my third trimester, I would sit beside him while he rocked in his signature rocker. One particular day, he asked me, "how much do you weigh?" I replied in a whisper (I didn't care to broadcast it...to the browsing customers), "164 pounds." And, he said (as if he couldn't hear me), "how much?" So...thinking that he was having trouble hearing and knowing that I would have to break the silence in the store in order for him to hear, (respectfully) I decided I would drop a few pounds and speak louder, replying, "143 pounds". With a twinkle in his eye he replied, "I heard you the first time." A great memory...I sure did love him.