Teacher of the Year

 

Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Anna, I am so proud of you all! Each of you is an amazing young woman! You are also young women who have such humble hearts. This is one of the many beautiful aspects of your characters.
Rebecca received this from her faculty yesterday. I'll probably be in trouble for posting the following, but I'm simply so proud of her....and of each of my daughters! God has truly blessed me by letting them be in my life!

A Rainy Day and My First Magnolia

 

Nothing is more refreshing than mountain air after a storm. I was much aware of every breath I took this morning. I could remember hikes at Bear Trap Ranch in Colorado, clean sheets that had dried on the line, and the crisp dampness of the creek bank where we used to hike years ago. I was so pleasantly surprised to see our first magnolia blossom, as well, on our new little tree in the back yard. This abruptly brought me to the present and my new life here. And from the looks of our tomato vine, we'll have a bumper crop this summer, as well. What delightful gifts of early summer! I talked to Judi yesterday afternoon. It's hard to believe that she's in Taiwan this very minute. What a God of suprises we serve!

Thank You, Judi!

 

Your phone call was such a blessing this afternoon. Without your motivation I would have missed these pastoral scenes. Riding through this countryside was such a peaceful way to end a Lord's Day! Talk to you in two weeks! Just think, we will have been halfway round the earth by then!

Carter's Lake

 

What a beautiful Sunday afternoon! I drove east to Carter's Lake after church today. Philip, I played your Indian Flute CD as I explored the water's edge and the surrounding hills. The shadows and deep greens of the woods, the absolute quiet of the woodlands and the myriad of lights on the lake's surface held me in awe. God's Creation continually rejuvinates my tired old soul. How thankful I am for this new home!

Current Pictures of that Young Soldier :)

 

There's even a road named for him!

Memorial Day

Dear Dad,
I have this picture proudly displayed in my living room. What a handsome young soldier you are! The following poem seemed to express my thoughts about the sacrifice you and many others made for us so many years ago...
Thank you, Dad! I love you!




One Nation under God

One Nation under God we live
Think about all some had to give

We the people share freedom’s life
In a world of ever present strife

Be grateful to those who kept this true
Warriors of our red, white, and blue

They were trained by those of great skill
Honed to perform, so strong their will

They showed what love was all about
They fought for us, there is no doubt

Defended bravely what we are
No holding back, though wounds and scars

Highly praise these brave dear men
Giving thanks time and again

Those in uniform will always be
The golden pride of this country

..And the Earth Shows Forth His Handiwork

 

More Pictures of Precious Babies for Grammy

 

More of the Dear Grimes/Evans/Morgan/Stock Family

 

What a blessing this family has been to my life! Mr.Grimes, you and your dear wife have been an absolute inspiration to me! Thank you for your faithfulness and your godly character. Your love for your wife, children and grandchildren, and more than anything, your love for your LORD are so evident! Your kind, gentle spirit has touched my heart so many times. You have done well, Mr. Grimes, and you are truly a good and faithful servant of God.

Day in Dollywood

 
What a lovely day with dear friends today! Thank you, Melissa for the ticket and for letting me share in the joy of your precious children, as well! The Grimes/Morgan/Evans/Stock Family is an absolute delight! I love you guys!

Monday Morning Sunrise

 

Sunday Morning Sunrise

I could not help but be awestruck this morning's sunrise. I was reading my Daily Light as the sun peeked over the mountains behind our home. Today's verses seemed to fit in so many ways, revealing both our nation's broken state and our LORD's sovereignty:
"And Gideon made an idol there and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel began to worship it, and this became a curse to Gideon and his family" "Let nothing be done in strife or in vainly seeking your own glory; but in lowliness of mind let each of you esteem the other as better than yourself. Love envies not, does not promote itself, is not puffed up with pride, does not behave rudely, does not selfishly seek her own good at the expense of others.""Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. " "Behold, we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed."
What a glorious hope for all of us! Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Four Generations

"Children are a Heritage from the LORD and the fruit of the womb is His reward...."

New Pictures of Paul and Elizabeth

Just had to share these newest pictures of Paul and Elizabeth. Thank you, guys, for sending them!

Beautiful Tulips and Precious Sophie

What a gift to have such beauty and laughter in my life!

Christ the Tiger

What a blessing to have the Evans, Morgan and Grimes Family for overnight guests! I count these lovely friends as "family" and am always uplifted by their presence. Over breakfast this morning my very favorite quote from any book, outside Scripture, came to mind as I thought how this time of fellowship was just a preview of Heaven and Eternity to come! How awesome it will be when, someday, all wrongs and injustices will be made right, fellowship among those who are estranged will be restored, all our brokenness will be healed, and all creation will be salvaged, whole and made new. I ended up looking up the quote once again, and it was just as meaningful now as it had been years ago. I must write it down.....(from Thomas Howard, Elisabeth Elliot's brother)

"I announce to you what is guessed at in all the phenomena of your world. You see the corn of wheat shrivel and break open and die, but you expect a crop. I tell you of the Springtime of which all springtimes speak. I tell you of the world for which this world groans and toward which it strains. I tell you that beyond the awful borders imposed by time and space and contingency, there lies what you seek. I nnounce to you life instead of mere existence, freedom instead of frustration, justice instead of compensation. For I announce to you redemption. Behold I make all things new. Behold I do what cannot be done. I restore the years that the locusts and worms have eaten. I restore the years which you have drooped away upon your crutches and in your wheel-chair. I restore the symphonies and operas which your deaf ears have never heard, and the snowy massif your blind eyes have never seen, and the freedom lost to you through plunder, and the identity lost to you because of calumny and the failure of justice; and I restore the good which your own foolish mistakes have cheated you of. And I bring you to the Love of which all other loves speak, the Love which is joy and beauty, and which you have sought in a thousand streets and for which you have wept and clawed your pillow."

"How can a man be expected to opt out of everything that looks important on the chance that there is more to it all than meets the eye? It is too great a risk. But perhaps, that is what is asked, I thought. Perhaps there is no escape from risk. Perhaps a man is asked to opt with all his might for authenticity, to respond with as much integrity as he can summon, to the cues. There ARE some--in his own consciousness, in his art, in his world. And then there is this great light that has appeared in the murk, like a morning star. It is there, silent and glorious.... calling us home."

What Howard didn't include, but a point that MUST be included, is that God left us, not only with clues, but with a living, indwelling Person and a true living Word to guide us, fill us, and lead us home......

Beautiful, Beautiful Dalton

The tune of "Beautiful, Beautiful Brown Eyes" keeps running through my mind this afternoon...with the words of "Beautiful, Beautiful Dalton". On a day when I miss my family and "the way we were" so acutely, these scenes have been such a Godsend. I know the plans my God has for all of us, and those plans are for good. I know more than ever that the only evil our Lord allows in His child's life is that which will be used to bring forth good. As I revel in driving these country roads and throughout our lovely small town, I am constantly reminded of this promise.

Happy Birthday, Anna!

I found this poem, by Mother, when looking through my Bible this weekend. Somehow, I think it fitting for my Annie's Birthday!

Three Little Girls

Three little girls sitting in a row,

And each is wonderful to know.

One is nine, and one is seven,

One is five, and oh, 'tis heaven

To be akin to such little dears

Who bring us joy and fun adn tears!

One is tall and dark and trim,

One is fair and cute and thin,

One is cuddly as a bear

With a darling smile and hair so fair.

So each little girl is special to me--

Number One, Number Two, and Number Three;

Each shares a place in Granny's heart

Each plays a very special parat

In making life so full of fun

Whether rain or snow or sun.

Yes, three little girls sitting in a row

Are really wonderful to know!

Happy Birthday, Anna! It has been a joy to see you grow into the wonderful young woman you are today! I love you!

Paul and Elizabeth 2

Paul and Elizabeth just sent me these pictures of their recent trip to Florida. I'm so thankful for ALL of my children! They're wonderful!

Paul and Elizabeth

Mother's Day Weekend

Thank you, Priscilla, for letting me share your camping world for a memorable afternoon this past Friday! It was medicine for my soul! You are such a gracious and patient hostess. Your camping sight was tranquil and lovely, and Ocoee is simply breathtaking! In fact, I was able to share it further, with Rebecca, on Sunday afternoon, so I was doubly blessed! I missed Elizabeth and Paul, Anna and Philip so much this Mother's Day afternoon that I just couldn't seem to stop the tears, but the beauty of the surrounding creation seemed to ease the ache a bit. Kids, you are all very precious to my heart! How much I am grateful for your calls, cards, and lovely tulips! I love you guys so much! Dad, thank you for your beautiful card, as well!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow.....

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.....
First the LORD gave us bright bluebirds to enjoy every morning in our own back yard.
This evening He gave us a gorgous golden sunset when we opened our front door after a storm....and, if that weren't enough, He also sent us the largest and most brilliant rainbow we've ever seen, as well! It was totally full, with hints of a second in the surrounding sky. To think that God Himself had it waiting for us outside our own back door! Our neighbor, Ann, called to share in the awesome moment. It's so refreshing to have a neighbor who enjoys God's world as much as we do!

Westwood Elementary

Westwood Elementary is also a delight! How much I love my job!

Day at Dawnville

I absolutely love my visits to Dawnville Elementary! The artwork alone will bring a smile to my heart every time, and the staff and children are some of the sweetest I've ever met since the dear folk at Alamo Elementary back in Baytown. These pictures are just a touch of what I mean!

Mountain Morning and Feathered Friends

The sun was especially brilliant this morning. It is so pleasant to have coffee on the terrace, watch the sun rise over the mountains, and enjoy the visiting birds. The stillness and true peace of this place literally clears my head and allows me to focus on what is truly important for the upcoming day.

This week, during these quiet hours, I've been reading a marvelous book on Abraham Lincoln's faith and character. One quote pierced my soul deeply this morning, " I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." May I realize anew today that our LORD will lift up those truly humble in spirit in His divine time. May these days be used to strengthen my faith, develop my character and teach me the true art of waiting in patience.