Off To Texas They Go

I said I was NOT going to cry. Guess what? I cried... bucketloads it seemed like. What else are you supposed to do when your daughter and her family pull up stakes, and move out of state? Now we have to get used to “a new normal“ again.

It seems like we, all of us humans, are always having to find a new normal. When a parent dies, when you lose a job, when a global pandemic strikes, or one of your children moves away. So many different things happen in our lives, and we have to find a new normal.

Maybe God wants to shake us up a bit, and keep us from getting in a rut. Maybe.

Here are pictures of them getting ready to load up in their vehicles pulling various trailers.

And you know that I was at the end of the driveway waving until they were out of view.

The trailer Weston was pulling was piled up with his lumber that he has saved up for various woodworking projects.

Packing and Purging

As I sit here in my living room this morning, sipping on my first cup of coffee, there is a flood of memories going through my heart.
First of all, since the last time I wrote, a whirlwind of events have happened. My daughters family came back from just a visit to Texas, to let us know they were moving there, in two weeks! The moving part didn’t surprise me, since God had been preparing me for it, but the timing did. Two weeks?
They already have a home, and Stephanie and Brittney already have good jobs. So a whirlwind of packing and purging began. They have been to our house for supper almost every night, since their kitchen things have mostly been packed up, and I have savored every moment.
My memories go back this morning to my parents, and how they must have felt when we moved away, because now I know. They were so strong through it all, put on these brave faces while we said goodbye, and always had a big smile and hug of welcome when we came back to visit. How many times have I seen them walk to the end of the carport, smiling and waving as we drove away?
Today is my day for that part. The Arnold guys took the first load of things to their new home two nights ago, driving through the night. When they arrived at their new home they unloaded, caught a little bit of sleep, then drove back last night. I woke this morning to all three of my Arnold grandchildren asleep in my living room. They arrived this morning around six. Stephanie and
Brittney spent the last two nights with us, which I’m grateful for.

Sleeping grandchildren 

Today they will get the last load and head off to their new home. I hope I can be strong, smiling and waving at the end of the garage as they drive away on their “grand adventure” as I’ve been calling it.

Grandma Christine came from Colorado to see them 

After a hard day of work, Weston unwound by playing  the piano. 

The packing and purging

Saying Goodbye

I'm sorry, but for me, saying goodbye even for a few weeks is hard, especially when it's your baby girl. Stephanie and her family have always been close by, and there aren't many days that go by without us seeing each other.
This Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many businesses, and Western Sizzlin, has gone under because of it. Jason, Stephanie's husband, has managed this store for many years, and it has done well with him at the helm. But there is just no recovering from what this pandemic has done to it. Yesterday was the last day for their doors to be open, and of course, we had to be there for it. We were there when they opened their doors, and there when they closed them for good.
Yesterday was also Father's Day, and we got together at the Arnold's for a big meal. We had a great meal, and a great time visiting. They have been packing up for an extended stay in Texas to visit with all the Homestead Heritage folks. I know they aren't moving there, not yet anyway, but we also don't know how long they will be gone. They are packing like they will be gone for a long time. Sad face here.
Now, I have to say, that God has been preparing me for this. He brought it to my attention in prayer about a month ago, so I have been expecting it. Still, they won't be just down the road for a while, and that's hard.
Randy and I have been talking about it a lot though, and we feel very blessed that we have had all three of our children and all eight grandchildren fairly close for many years. We know people who have had to watch grandchildren grow up via Face-time, or just seeing them a couple of times a year.
Here are some pictures from yesterday.

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Time

Make the Most of Your Time

Ephesians 5: 1-17

Time is a precious commodity. You can’t earn more of it or reuse it. Once it’s spent, it’s gone forever. That’s why no amount of money, possessions, or success can equal its value. What’s more, we have no control over the length of time we’ll be given in this life. God alone is over the number of our days (Psalm 139:16).

If you want to know what your true values are, simply look at how you spend your time. For the follower of Jesus, activities and pursuits will show a life lived for Him. So, what is required to live wisely?

As God’s child, imitate Him. Do this by walking in love, turning from sin, and trying to learn what is pleasing to Him. Of course, to imitate, you have know the Lord, His ways, and His desires, and you learn that by reading His Word. 

Make the most of your time. We shouldn’t just thoughtlessly move through life. That results in  hours spent on things that, in an eternal sense, are fruitless. The apostle Paul warns us to be wise in making the most of opportunities. 

Remember, life is not about how long you live, but about whether you’re living for Christ. It’s never too late to change direction. Place your trust in God, ask Him for guidance for each day, and let Him direct how you spend your time.

Just Peachy

Spring is finally in the air, though March has really come in like a lion, meaning it’s very windy.

Aiden and his Papaw went out to our friend Mr. Brown’s farm today and dug up some peach trees, then transplanted them into our little orchard. Of course Aiden wants to know how soon we will have peaches! Oh, and what we will do with them besides just eating them. We will make preserves and cobblers and pies... oh my! But we have to be patient first. Growing peach trees take a little while. 

Yesterday they planted kale and broccoli, and started some seedlings. Aiden is getting more than just traditional schooling, he is learning all kinds of life skills.

A New Year-A New Beginning

Happy New Year to everyone! I pray this year sees us all growing in love toward each other and to God.

I don't really make resolutions anymore, but I do like to try to improve my life, and I'm sure you do as well. This year I would like to continue decluttering my house and life. I really do want my life to be more simple, so I can enjoy relationships with family and friends, and have more time to spend in God's Word. Relationships with people and God are so rewarding, whereas relationships with "things" are so one-sided! ;-)

The very first day of this year I went on a road trip with my hubby. He has been concerned about the hay situation for a few weeks now. He put up all he could get his hands on, and didn't sell any, but it just isn't going to be enough. He really doesn't like to see his cows get skinny in the winter months, especially since many of them are pregnant with this springs calves.

We prayed about it, and he found some good Bermuda hay, but it was three and a half hours away, one way! But we did it for the cows. We had a good time on the trip, just talking and singing and being with each other.

Aiden is doing very well in school this year, and I am enjoying homeschooling him. He tries very hard, and he is learning to cook as well. He usually makes breakfast on the mornings he is here, and now that he has the hang of it, he doesn't really want my help! I finished this hat for him a couple of days ago.

I am working on a new wrap called the "Shh! Wrap". I'm using some yarn that I spun about a year ago from Shetland wool. I kettle dyed it a color that I call Ranch Red. It is a little itchy, so I didn't want to use it for something that would be right on the skin. I have never made a wrap like this one, so I thought the challenge would be fun. Here is a picture of the wrap, and the yarn. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

                                   

                                                               

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is almost upon us (so soon?). It's the time of year to reflect upon all that we have to be thankful for. I know we all have problems, and things that try to get the best of us, but I don't know a single one of my friends or family that don't have A LOT to be thankful for.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 says, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy..."

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have..."

 Covetous means having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else. Ever heard of wanting to keep up with the Jones's? My phone provider keeps sending me emails telling me that my iPhone is upgradable. Am I tempted? Sometimes. But then I remember that two years ago when I got my brand new iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 came out just a few months later. My phone works perfectly, so there is really no reasonable purpose for upgrading right now. I need to be content with the one I have.

I think we all know what unthankful means, but listening to people, including children, talk at the store ( I'm not eavesdropping, because they are talking loud enough for people two aisles over to hear, ha), I realize that not very many are thankful with what they already have.

I was reading a blog this morning, and I was so impressed with what she wrote, that I just have to share it with you. The blog is called Ever Thine Home by Barbara Rainey. These are her words...

An eight-year-old, whom we’ll call Amy, wrote in her diary:

Today I forgot to brush my hair and my pencils all broke. My brother goes around the house screaming and bothering me. I can’t not take anymore. I almost feel like running away, but I can’t because I simple have no place to go. Darin is a pain at school. Mr. O’Neil picks John all the time. It has been a bad day. I’m glad nothing will be rong in heaven!

We all have bad days; sometimes we have several in a row. Often our bad days are simply full of nuisances like Amy’s little brother, or a driver in front of us who is going so slowly we’re late for an appointment, or the grocery store running out of the one item we need for dinner. The vacuum breaks, our favorite tee shirt gets lost, our cell phone keeps dropping calls, a neighbor complains about where we put our trash can. It’s pouring rain—again—and the kids are stuck in the house all day. Inconveniences and inconsiderate people can make for bad days.

But think for a moment. Is it possible that God is using that slow driver in front of you to protect you from a wreck? When you lose a valued possession, might God be teaching you contentment? When someone in your life is being difficult, could God be giving you an opportunity to pray and see what He will do? 

Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Are you willing to look for the good that God intends in something that may seem bad to you?

Matthew Henry was a Puritan preacher from the late 1600s. Like our friend Amy, he once wrote in his diary about something bad that happened to him. One day, while walking home in London, he was robbed by a couple of men who jumped him from the shadows of an alley. Being robbed is hardly an everyday nuisance—it’s much more unsettling, more of a personal violation that can leave one feeling vulnerable and frightened.

Reverend Henry probably felt those things, but what he wrote that night in his journal is very instructive: “Let me be thankful, first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.” What a great perspective on a difficult situation!

Matthew Henry chose to look for the good that was hidden in the bad. And by doing this he showed us how important it is to focus on the positive that God wants us to see in every situation in life. It’s always there; we 

just have to choose to look for it.

When we give thanks, we are saying to God that He is good in all that He orders for our lives. We are filling our minds with the larger truth about our situation and about Him, not just feeling sorry for ourselves that bad things have happened.

Thanking God is not a magic wand that makes everything perfect, but it does bring balance to our emotions to keep us from feeling only sad or lonely or unhappy.

What hard things have happened to you recently? Are you willing to look for the hidden good in them? Do as Matthew Henry did and write down what you can be thankful for in your hard situation. And if you have children or grandchildren, help them learn to be grateful by finding the good in the bad, naming those gifts and writing them down to be remembered.

Lord help me to be more thankful, and look for the good in every situation. Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Renewing of Vow’s

Last Saturday our children threw us a wonderful anniversary celebration. The decorations were beautiful, the food was delicious, and the company was great. It was our 40th, and we decided to renew our vows as well.

Stephanie was very excited, and told us that we were not to get there even a minute before 6:15. She later told me a hilarious story of things that were going on just before we got there. She is very quiet spoken normally, and has to really push to be loud enough to be heard over a noise. Everyone was excited and busy visiting, and doing last minute things before we got there. She kept trying to tell everyone they needed to get outside to the arbor that was beautifully decorated. She intended there to sweet music, played by Weston and Brittney, drifting from the backyard as we got out of the car. So when she saw us pulling into the driveway she had to scream, “ They are here! Everyone outside!” And everyone made a mad dash to get in their places. 

My sons came to my side of the car, and they escorted me to the backyard, where there was indeed, sweet music floating in the air. Jeff was up front, and somehow Randy was already beside him. We had a very touching vow renewal ceremony, beautifully done by Pastor Jeffrey Morgan (brother-in-Love). All our children and grandchildren were there, as well as Randy's mom, Sandra and her family, and my brother Randy.