Some More Pictures of Mr. Jim Grimes

Mr. Grimes at the chapel in Dollywood earlier this year and his praying for his family before a meal there. How fitting that the last pictures I took of Mr. Grimes were these. Now, he is looking his dear Savior in the face and talking with him with no more barriers of space or time.....

In Loving Memory of a Godly Man

Mr. James Grimes

There are few truly great people who ever cross our paths.

Mr. Grimes was one.

How my heart was broken this morning when precious Carole shared the news of her dear father's passing into eternity. Heaven is the richer. And dear Miss Bertha, how much both of you must be smiling at this very moment.

You both left behind true treasure that will be stored in Heaven itself. Your investment in the lives of your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have eternal rewards.

How rich you were, Mr. Grimes, in what truly matters.....relationships with your family and those of us who were blessed enough to call you "friend". You gave of your time, of your wisdom, of your prayers. I will miss your sweet notes in emails that always seemed to come at "just the right time". You were always such a gentleman in your conduct and words and actions. You truly glorified your Savior in your life and by your love.

How very much you will be missed.

The following songs seem to verbalize what my heart is singing about your life and influence on so many of us.

............................................................................

When It's All Been Said and Done

When it's all been said and done

There is just one thing that matters

Did I do my best to live for truth?

Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done

All my treasures will mean nothing;

Only what I've done

For love's rewards

Will stand the test of time.

Lord, your mercy is so great

That you looked beyond our weakness,

And found purest gold in miry clay,

Turning sinners into saints.

And I will always sing your praise

Here on earth and ever after,

For you've shown me heaven's my true home,

When it's all been said and done.

You're my life when life is gone....

.......................................................................................

They will say I loved my family,

That I was a faithful friend,

That I lived to tell of God's own Son

When all is said and done.

Sharon's Baby and Grandbabies

Oh Sharon....what pure joy to visit with your dear family! Your daughter and grandbabies are absolutely beautiful!

The Biltmore at Christmas Time

More Grand Gargoyles at the Biltmore

I was so very fascinated by these beautiful examples of stone work.

Grandieur and Gargoyles

The Biltmore outdid itself this Christmas. Jim and Carole graciously allowed me to accompany them on their tour of this gorgeous home for the Christmas Season. These are just some of the examples of its grand attention to the most minute of detail. The gargoyles are on every corner and nook of the mansion....and oh, how many corners and nooks there are! Here are but some of the stone art of this mansion! My favorite sight of the entire house during the daylight hours was the center picture in this blog. I truly think the artist captured the face of Joan of Arc. The pain, the faith, the calling of God on her life are all so poignantly portrayed. It was a silent reminder to me of the weight and enduring nature of His call on our lives. It called to mind, or to heart, that this is NOT the end, that there is, indeed, an eternity when all will be made right. Until that time, even amidst the pain and sorrow and difficulty of the path, we are assured that "all is well."

A Creche' for Baby Rambo

Merry Christmas, dear One. We love you so very much and look forward to celebrating with you next year.

Christmas is Coming to the Bishop Home

What a wonderful day! Judi, your call was such a blessing and a very positive start to my day! We went to Becca's friend's ornament exchange lunch and then came home and put the final touches on our decorating. Becca's friend Trent is over right now, and Becca is all smiles:) This old mother is about to let the younger generation enjoy the fruits of our labor. The race, the party and then the decorating has just about worn my old body out. But what delightful ways of celebrating the season have already blessed me! Im' about to have my own time of Advent and then "dream of sugar plums":)

I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE

Our precious Baby Rambo. How beautifully the Lord is knitting you together, dear One! I look forward to the day when I can hold you. You are such a beautiful gift from God to our family!

More Thanksgiving Pictures

The restaurant is housed in the old Chattanooga Train Station. What a lovely place for dinner....and no dishes to wash afterwards! I'd like to make this a tradition! We just need Elizabeth and Paul!

Thanksgiving Photos

What a delightful time at the Chattanooga Choo Choo for Thanksgiving Dinner! It was so wonderful to have Anna and Philip join Rebecca and me for the weekend!

A Dusting of God's Grace

The first blanket of winter fell upon us last evening. We turned on our little fireplace logs, made hot chocolate complete with marshmallows, and snuggled under lap quilts. Sophie and Charlie looked so cute in their new winter sweaters. The last of Thanksgiving leftovers completed the magic of the winter's night.
This afternoon I received a call from dear Helen. She told me of the snow atop Grassy Mountain that she had seen on her way home from work. What a dear friend to share this gift with me. I grabbed my camera and jumped into my little car and literally flew to the top of Ft. Mountain to catch the scenes. Nothing compares to the stillness of a newfallen snow atop a mountain. The air was chilling to my lungs. My breath appeared in cloudlike whisps ahead of me as I trekked along. I am truly learning to appreciate the times of solitude with God Himself as my companion. What a lovely day!

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.