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.

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!