Baby Boy Rambo

Yes, our new little grandbaby is a boy! This grandmother-to-be is so very excited! I broke down and cried in line at the WalMart pharmacy when Anna called! How very blessed I am!

The Hints of the Winter to Come

What a bone chilling afternoon for this coastal Texan. The drive from Dalton to Chattanooga was accented by the almost bare trees and the biting cold. I felt invigorated and look forward to the late autumn days ahead. Only 1 1/2 weeks till Annie and Philip come!

The Lifter of My Head

For Thou, O Lord, are a shield to me, my glory and the lifter of my head. PS. 3:3

On a morning when this Pilgrim feels so very far removed from her hometown, the view outside my window stirred my heart, as the morning broke unto the new day.

Our choir sang the words to the above Psalm yesterday morning, and Becca graciously made me a CD of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing it for my car.

As I continue to gaze outside, I realize that I simply cannot capture the beauty of this place, but must share mere impressions of the whole. Frost is covering the rooftops below me on our little mountain, steam is rising between the hills, autumn colors are holding on to the treetops amidst ever baring branches, and the chilling air energizes my body and soul. Even though I miss dear Baytown severely today, I cannot help but kneel before my Father for His loving provision for me. His mercy IS everlasting and His grace is truly amazing!

I realize anew that His provision is new every morning, that He alone owns the day ahead, and that my sole purpose is to wait on His timing and then follow His leading, step by step.

Puppy Sitting

What a lark! Paul and Elizabeth left for a weekend in the mountains Friday, and I got to puppy sit Bunni, their little dog. That meant I truly had a "Three Dog Night" every night this weekend! Actually, for three "only pooches", they were quite good and got along very well. Life is full and blessed.

Snow on the Mountain

What a gift to awaken this morning to a dusting of snow on Grassy Mountain! Overlooking the last of the autumn foliage, the mountains looked both serene and protective of little Dalton. I am so very humbled to live amidst such beauty.

Carole and Sherry's Visit

There is a friend who stays closer than a brother. I cannot but think of dear Carole and Sharon with this verse. After 40+ years, our friendship has been tested and tried many times. God has been faithful in the course, and the friendship flourishes to this day. Sherry, you are a precious new friend. I look forward to forging strong ties as the years progress.
God was ever present in the weekend, from providing gorgeous foliage, beautiful mountains, the delights and smells of an apple orchard's country store, and crisp autumn days. Lunch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo was delightful. And we were especially blessed to share in Kay Arthur's 75th birthday celebration at Precepts Ministries. Her words were inspiring, full of hope, and uplifting. I know it was Your timing, Lord, that we arrived just in time for the event and were welcomed by the staff to take part.
Thank you Lord, for the wonderful, grace-filled, days!

A Darling First "Granni" Gift from a Precious Friend!

Thank you, dear Sharon, from my heart! Nothing could have made me smile more! I will treasure this little bib and cannot wait to put it to use some day! You are so very dear!

More Reflections of a Beautiful Morning

What a blessing to live in the midst of the living artistry of God Himself. The peace and order of creation calms my very core. Material possessions seem so pointless. Problems seem so far removed and petty. I can focus on nothing less than our loving Creator. My heart, once again, is still and full.

Morning in the Mist at Chickamauga

These were the scenes as I waited for those in the marathon to pass. The chilled quiet was magnified by the sharp rustle of leaves as deer walked out of their hiding to feed. The stillness was broken by the starting shot of the race. I could not but think of the fierce battle that took place here in which so many lives were lost.

Judi's Favorite Marathon Man

Allen, you absolutely inspired me this morning. You were amazing! This was my first "real, live" marathon and what a thrill to see you run past me, ahead of the pack! I know so much dedication and hard work must have been involved and I genuinely applaud you! You've made the verse, "Run, with patience, the race set before you," come to life. Thanks for letting me be a part. (Judi, your dear son is talking to you in the middle picture:)

Sophie

What a delightful way to wake up every morning....with precious Sophie nudging me with her cold little nose! She has been a gift to me and I'm so thankful for her.
Becca and I went for Mexican food last night in Chattanooga, while little Charley was getting groomed at the Petco there, and then went shopping for a little while. It still boggles my mind that I am here in Chattanooga shopping instead of at the San Jacinto Mall.... The autumn colors, even at the shopping center, are gorgeous, the weather almost perfect, and the surrounding mountains just breathtaking in their Joseph's coats of red, yellow, orange and green. What a way to shop! In fact, I'm so inspired by the scenery that I'm hardly ever compelled to buy a thing!
The view out my window on this chilly autumn morning inspires me to "get up and get moving" (as my mother would say:). We're having a community Big Brothers/Big Sisters Birthday Celebration this evening. It's also dear Becky Pritchard's b'day.

You are the Light of the World

My devotional this morning was from Colossians 1:11-13.

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in LIGHT. Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has transformed us into the kindom of His dear Son.

Morning Has Broken

I have been in an almost constant state of prayer these last few days. My heart is so heavy about the state and future state of my beloved country. I see the blinding of so many citizens' eyes.

I am reminded of a Frances Schaeffer conference years ago that I attended with dear Becky Black. During that time he foretold of a time when materialism would be the ruling force of our nation. He stated words that ring in my mind these days, "In a society in which there are no absolutes, the society itself becomes the absolute." And I can be so troubled, realizing that we may well have become such a society.

Yet, on the morning of the dawning of what may be a new America, such as we have never imagined, my heart is at peace. I remind my heart to "Be still, and know that I AM GOD", as I put my hope and trust in Him. I realize anew that my hope is NOT in a leader but in the LORD. He is bringing about His purposes, and He controls the turnings and twistings of the River of Time and History. It IS HIS STORY, after all.

The Lord is My Shepherd. I Shall Not Want

Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me All the Days of My Life

And I will dwell in the House of the Lord Forever.

He Restoreth My Soul

The 23rd Psalm is repeating itself, over and over, in my heart this evening. The afternoon was totally breathtaking. The beauty of God's creation in these mountains is the closest taste of heaven that I have ever experienced.

He Leadeth Me beside the Still Waters

Hiking around the Lake at Ft. Mountain

For the Beauty of the Earth....For the Glory of the Skies....
Oh Lord, my heart is full to the breaking point with Your glorious creation! I will always be grateful for your goodness to me!

A Sunday Afternoon Drive up Ft. Mountain

What a gorgeous afternoon drive! Carole and Sherry, Ft. Mountain has literally been set ablaze with color since you left 3 days ago. How I wish I could have shared this with you two! Daniel, I know you would love this so much, as well. I have thought about the quote from John Donne that you shared Thursday so many times, "In Heaven it is always autumn, because God's blessings are always ripe." I am truly blessed beyond measure to live in such a breathtakingly beautiful place!

My First Date

What a delightful time yesterday! I've met a really nice new friend named Tom. He's a widower who teaches photography at two local colleges here and is a photojournalist for the Baptist Mission Board. Yesterday we went to Mercier's Apple Barn in Blue Ridge and exploring Fort Mountain, as well. He showed me a few new "tricks" of photo taking and put me at ease about the possibility of dating in the future. God is ever good and faithful to me, even in these adventures into unchartered waters. My new world is such a beautiful blessing, and I am so thankful to be alive in this lovely world!

Longtime and Cherished Friends

What a blessing to know that "family" is not limited to those to whom we are born. God Himself puts us in His Family, and by doing so, close friends do become our sisters and brothers! Daniel, Carole, and Sherry, you were each such a blessing to me yesterday, and I'm proud to call you "relatives"! How I look forward to a day when all of us will live in closer proximity to each other!

Maggie Valley Weekend

What an absolute blessing! The weekend was "nearly perfect" in every way. Visiting with longtime friends -- Marcia, Lori, and Sara Rogers, viewing breathtaking scenery, shopping and walking in the crisp autumn mornings, and sipping hot chocolate by the crackling fire in the cabin fireplace in the evenings. My heart is full and my spirit is so very thankful for being able to fellowship with Christian friends in this splendid display of God's creativity! Thank you, Lord!

Final Pictures of a Glorious Day

Old Friends, Dear Friends

The Rogers Girls have been friends for 30+ years. What precious gifts from God!

And the Earth Shows Forth His Handiwork

From the majesty of the mountains to the smallest details in nature, our world declares our Lord's glory.

Happy Birthday Yaya!

I was blessed beyond words yesterday with a phone call from my dear cousin Ann's daughter Alisa! What a true gift from God Himself! To experience anew the faithful love of my dear Mother's family was, quite literally, a taste of the Heaven which is to come!

Aunt Lila, how I miss you this morning! You've always been an inspiration to so many of us...... Your continual quest for learning and experiencing the beauty in life has been passed on to generations! Your love for reading and putting down the depths of your heart in written words were such inspirations to me, personally, and actually one of the underlying foundations for my writing this blog of my soul....

I've always appreciated your gifts of hospitality and kindness (which were passed on to your daughters and grandaughters), Aunt Lila. And I have grown to truly cherish your downright determination and indomitable spirit more and more during the last few years....These, too have been inspirations to me to "keep on" when I've wanted so much to cave in to others or run away from life, instead of embracing the life and the people God puts on my path, day to day....

I know how much you loved "your twin"....and this means so much to her daughter! Your special bond was beautiful to see, Yaya. Your hearts beat as one, and I know you shared many of your hearts' joys and sorrows without the necessity of the spoken word. The bond was strong and enduring....... and full of laughter and joy, despite the deep valleys endured by you both,.....and full of shared wisdom because of those valleys. I know that you and your dear Fred were guardian angels over Mother during the early days of your marriage....and just maybe Fred is allowing Mother to share in guarding over you, as a returned grace, these days....

How special it will be some day in the distant future, to be able to visit all of you in your next door mansions throughout a beautiful eternity to come! I know you will both have many, many visitors from children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You see, all of our lives have been deeply touched and shaped and molded by the love and lives of the Stokes Twins!

I love you very much! May your 90th be a very special day!

Oh, Glorious Day!

Thank you, Vondeana Green, for helping us remember this phrase! There is just no way to describe Appalachian Autumns short of superlatives! My soul and spirit are refreshed, revived and renewed! I don't think I'll ever be able to take my new home for granted....and, Lord, may I never even border on complacency up here. As I type this blog, I'm looking out our upstair's window on the entire Blue Ridge...ablaze with the breaking of the dawn amidst a cobalt blue sky. It is, in fact, "Glorious!"