Grandpa's 88th Birthday

Thank you, Lord! Wednesday, Elizabeth and I left for Macon. We were prepared for Dad to have surgery on his carotid artery. Several tests had indicated that it was 80-90% blocked. We arrived at the hospital that afternoon and had a nice visit with him, along with Bea, his wife, and her son, Lamarr. How pleased we all were the next day, after surgery, that the stint we had thought would be necessary, at best, was not even needed. Amazingly, the artery was only 50% blocked. By the next day Dad was able to return home. We had some really nice sharing times this weekend and learned a lot about Dad's early days. Last night Bea made a wonderful whipped cream pound cake, peaches and ice cream for us all. Today we celebrated his 88th birthday. It turned out that God gave all of us a birthday gift.....Dad's health! What a blessing!

His Eye is on the Sparrow

I was deeply saddened by our new President's reinstatement of federal funds to support foreign abortions. As an adopted person, I know I am doubly grieved over this act. My heart breaks, not only from a moral standpoint but from a deeply personal view of the procedure. I view it as taking a life, a precious God-given life. The sunrise yesterday morning reminded me that our Father is still in control and will still provide for His remnant. This morning, my first sight was a chuft sparrow. He does care for His children....... May He have mercy on our land....and may our land be humbled and be brought back to Him.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Snowing all night would mean no school tomorrow......:) Becca is praying for snow!

Red Sky in the Morning.

Another breathtaking sunrise from my back terrace. I've heard that snow is coming this evening. What a beautiful way to start the day.....

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

.....The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The Robert Frost poem rang through my heart as we walked along the tiny creek on Grassy Mountain this evening. To think such a peaceful place is within a few miles of my home. My mind is still awestruck with the beauty of this lovely land.

A Chair for Baby Rambo

Precious Baby Boy Rambo....
Your Great Granny and Great Grandpa bought this little chair for your mother and her sisters many years ago.
They used it for special family celebrations and beloved family times, as our family would gather around the dining room table in your great grandparents' home.
The chair found itself liberally sprinkled with birthday cake, Easter Bunny's jellybeans and chocolate and marshmallow bunny ears, Granny's Christmas fruitcake, and Grandpa Bill's famous pancakes. Usually it sat upon a "dropcloth" to catch these morsels of love that were dropped as your mother and her sisters enjoyed these special treats. Always the little chair would be lovingly given a bath and a dusting afterwards, in anticipation of celebrations to come.
It was a royal throne for the family princesses, a true "high" chair.
Precious Baby, so many things have changed since then, and this little chair's surroundings are new,
but the storehouse of the truly lasting treasures of those days remains. Treasures of cherished times with the family of days gone by will always be a part of our hearts. I am so thankful that your mother rescued this little throne from certain destruction.
For now, it will be able to hold its first little boy occupant...our own "Little Prince"..... in new occasions of shared joy and love.

Blessings on a Frosty Winter Day

I have been so toasty warm inside these past 24 hours....
As I ventured outside to view my new Lowe's thermometer, and found my breath appearing in frosty puffs in front of me, I was thankful once again for our little, snug home. Gas logs were flickering, the dogs playing a my feet, hot coffee was awaiting me, and the mountain view from my window inviting me to an adventure this afternoon. What a blessed woman I am. How loving and kind is my Lord. His faithfulness does endure forever....

I See the Moon.....

What a glorious sky tonight.....
The heavens truly declare the glory of God.....

A Calm Evening after a Week of Rain....

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate

And has shed His own blood for my soul.

And Lord haste the day

When my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Oh my soul.

Christmas with the Holtons Contd.

Thanks again, Gillis, for a lovely Christmas Day!

Christmas in Memphis with Paul's Family

"....And I was a stranger, and you took me in" Thanks, Holton's for being so hospitable to us this Christmas. With our family so scattered, an open door for the Christmas Holidays was such a gift to our hearts and spirits. Gillis, your home is just lovely, your food delicious, and your kind and gracious hospitality will never be forgotten. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Christmas In Oklahoma

Visions of Sugarplums

What a wonderful Christmas. Here are pictures from Anna and Philip's home.