New Bunk Beds

Well..........almost new. Used only about one year. Amy saw these in a furniture store over a year ago and wanted them so badly, but not with a price of $700. I've kept my eye on Craigslist. I found these for $200. Boy, oh, boy........do we have some happy boys!!!!!!!!! It was a family affair getting them moved and set up!

The Best of Surprises!

Jon Abram's family surprised us on Memorial Dad and came home. To really add icing to the cake, our Melody, who will be 17 next month, came to spend a week with Nanny and Papa! When she came in, she said, "Nanny, I brought no computer and no school work. I'm YOURS FOR THE WEEK!" Whoo hoo..
She has colored our days. Melody has joined Nanny and Papa in the early hours on the deck for devotions. Her beautiful soprano voice has blessed the morning with old hymns from one of her favorite hymnals.
This morning, after a longggggggggggg night, Nanny felt too bad to read and Melody read to her from Isaiah. Chapters 40 and 41.....awesome chapters.
Yesterday, Melody, along with Erica, Cameron, and Jb attended campmeeting with Nanny and Papa. They were sooooo proud!
Melody picked out several recipes from Nanny's lowfat cook books, and has the week's menu planned. She is quite a cook.
Erica was here for one day, and teenage banter has kept Nanny smiling...

Grandchildren.........what a blessing from God!

A Retirement Home?

Mountain cabin in Gatlinburg, where our son and his family gave us our last real vacation 4 years ago. It was wonderful, they treated us like royalty!

Ahhh....Home, the sweetest place on earth! Our little chateau, where "old love" is at it's best!  Where in the early cool hours we share God's Word, our love and devotion to Him. Where we sit and watch our birds, eat lunch, or play a game. Where in the evening hours we often go again to watch the birds return in full array for their last meal of the day.  God has been so good to bless us with our little home for the "retiring" years!!!

#1 Sis

 So very happy to have Sis here for a few days. It's been soooooooooooo long, too long! She's been sick for a long time. Today we gals and our fellas, Amy and her crew enjoyed being with her.

One of our favorites things..birds and blooms.  Picking blueberries.

Yes, Sara enjoyed her too.

A "God Ordered" Day

 As God's children, we are always aware of His Presence and direction in our lives.  Every once in a while we have a special moment in time, in which we are made extremely aware of His Divine love and care.  Yesterday is a day that will always live in my memory as one of those special times.

I seldom feel the need to visit my Mom and Dad's graves. I've learned that we all deal with our losses differently.  I love the springtime, when my Mama's flowers bloom in my yard. I love to take her cane and walk around the yard in the early morning hours as she did.  I sing the song that I can still hear her sweet voice warbling:

                                            I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Yesterday, was different. For some reason I got up with on overwhelming need to go to Mama and Daddy's graves.  Jon wasn't able to make the trip, told me I wasn't able to make it alone, and Avon is never able to make the trip.  Why did I feel this way?  A little while later I was talking to Avon, and she had gotten up with the same strong need to go as well.  That in itself was a miraculous event.

We called Joanne about meeting us there.  Her response was, "You've GOT TO BE KIDDING!" Total unbelief, like I said, it never happens.  Sis and I practically threw ourselves together and headed out for the two hour trip.  

Each of us putting flowers on the graves.

 We were rather unprepared for what happened next. We called our sister Pam in Indiana.  Joanne put her on speaker phone.  She too had felt so many memories and emotions stirring.  We sat and reminisced, laughed, cried, and rejoiced.  There was nothing sad here.  How we thanked God for our heritage.  We remembered moments in time, shared burdens over our families, and renewed our commitment to God.  We vowed anew, by God's grace, to carry The Torch onward and forward to this present age. We prayed, "May all who come behind us find us faithful..."

God's Presence transcended the miles, and our hearts were united in a way far more real than even actually being together.

We took our precious last letter from Monty and shared with Pam... how Monty and a few cell mates are gathering and praying for revival in a loathsome prison filled with despair, depravity, and deplorable conditions. Prayers of Mama and Daddy being fulfilled long after their deaths. Yes, we ALL FIVE were there...united in love.

And then we do what Sower's ALWAYS do... we sang... In the Sweet Bye and Bye, It will be Worth it All When We See Jesus, This Is What Heaven Means to Me, and Thank God For My Christian Home... the melody rang out, the tears of joy flowed, and our hearts were so full.  For, "We sorrow not as those who have no hope........" It was a blessed "Mother's Day" for us....

Just a very short clip....

And last but not least......we did what we sisters ALWAYS DO, we laughed alot....

Next to God............family is EVERYTHING!!!

"That He Should Love a Sinner Such as I, How Wonderful Is Love Like This!"

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7 KJV

Come and Dine

Dear Friends and Family,

A blessed Good Morning to each of you.  God is good today, every day.  Trust you are all well.  It's a cloudy day here, but should be a mild one.

After ten long days, Dad D. is out of Intensive Care, and we are praising God.

Daybreak arrived at 7:26 am. I was sitting in my "watch and pray" chair by the window.  I love to watch my birds and pray in those early moments.  Sometimes my Mockingbird is only a shadow at my nearby feeder, so close to my window.  Soon the Titmice, Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Cardinals, and Mourning Coves arrive.

As I sat and observed the beautiful Redheaded Woodpecker at my feeder this morning, my thoughts began to churn.  The Redheaded Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and Cardinals are beautiful to the eye, brilliantly arrayed.  The Mourning Doves are so graceful.  The Mockingbird is rather drab in color. But my book assures me that come Spring, my Mockingbird will be the first to announce it with it's glorious song.

As I began to contemplate the "value" of my variety of birds, it occurred to me that if it had been an ugly Crackle or Cowbird at my feeder this morning, I would have wanted to "hurl something at it!"  If Little Buddy had been here, he would have asked, "Nanny, you want me to get my BB gun?"

Isn't that just like human nature?  We put so much value on outward beauty(my Cardinals), talent(my Mockingbird), performance(my graceful Mourning Dove),  Why wouldn't I welcome ALL birds at my feeder?

Suddenly, my heart was overwhelmed! I'm so glad that my Father looks beyond all these things that we consider so important to measure ones worth!  I'm sure I'm one of those "Cowbirds," no beauty, no talent, no performance....

I'm so glad that He doesn't have a "select few," but that He welcomes all!  My heart was so warmed with God's love for me.  As I begun to weep, I had to bow my hear in humble praise to Him who today "feeds" me, loves me, and nurtures me.  Today, I thank Him for His loving kindnesses and tender mercies that are new every morning!

"Come and dine,"the Master calleth.

"Come and dine!"

You may feast at Jesus table all the time!

He, who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, "Come and Dine!!"

Are you hungry?  He is waiting for you!  Come to Him and find your soul's deepest longings satisfied!

Linda