tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28383728695731862682024-03-21T13:51:03.266-05:00Jill's BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger498125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-38125760549887760132014-09-09T14:40:00.001-05:002014-09-09T15:55:41.997-05:00Ms. Bette<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
Jesus said, </i></span><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Let
the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the
kingdom of heaven.”</i></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew
19:14<span class="woj"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj">We began to visit Ms. Bette periodically
after her husband, Mr. Don, died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
oldest members of our church, the two of them were something of a legend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Don lived a long and Godly life before
passing away last January at the age of 88.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj">Ms. Bette wasn’t ever quite the same after
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her family moved her to assisted
living, and, while she always kept a cheerful spirit, she did occasionally
mention that she hoped to be able to move back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also showed me a large picture of Mr. Don
one day that she told me she got out when she was lonely.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj">Cooper loved to go see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She laughed at his antics, and she always had
interesting things for him to look at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would give her big hugs which brought tears to her eyes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj">The last few times I called her, she said
she wasn’t up for a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just didn’t
feel well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then her family announced that
she was going into hospice care.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj">This past Sunday morning, Ms. Bette joined
Mr. Don in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no doubt that
the reunion there that morning was a joyful one for both of them. And I'm sure her joy in getting to meet her Savior was greater still.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="woj">That afternoon, I told Cooper that Ms. Bette
had gone to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
began asking me about heaven and about Jesus, things we had talked about
before, but not in so much detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hadn’t tried to lead him to accept Christ because I felt he was still a little
young for that, but that day, he asked me if he would go to heaven too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him he would if he asked Jesus to be
his Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about sin and why
he needed a Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He showed an
understanding of his sinfulness and of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the
cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I prayed with him to receive
Jesus as his Savior.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I believe he fully understands, as well as an
almost-four-year-old can, what he has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has since told several people that he asked Jesus into his
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has talked more about heaven
and seeing Ms. Bette again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, Don and I
will continue to teach him about Jesus as he grows, making sure he understands
it all.<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But for now, I am resting in the fact that Cooper
knows Jesus and is saved for all eternity.
And I <i>know</i> that Ms. Bette would
be thrilled to know that her death had played a role in that. </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-13793983641746855642014-06-04T08:16:00.001-05:002014-06-04T08:16:47.160-05:00Remember Me?I guess I got out of the blog mode for a while. But I'm back.<br />
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We've had a busy couple of months. Cooper, now 3-1/2, is changing and growing every day. Not only are his clothes getting too small, toys are being outgrown, and Mom and Dad are having to adjust to new attitudes and situations, deciding where to extend new freedoms to him and where to hold our ground while being constantly challenged.<br />
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We've had a fun springtime, getting outside once again and enjoying the sunshine.<br />
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And the mud.<br />
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Don's work schedule has been an adjustment for our family, mainly having him work every other weekend. It was hard for me when I realized he had to work on Easter, but we got through it. Hospitals don't stop for weekends or holidays.<br />
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We ordered a butterfly kit, receiving 5 live caterpillars, watching them turn into chrysalides and then into butterflies before letting them go. This was an interesting project for all of us, and Cooper still talks about it.<br />
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I've been spending a lot of time working in my garden. I have enlarged it once again and have it mostly planted now. We got TONS of strawberries, which I planted last year and really didn't have to do anything to this year except cover them to keep the birds out, and pick them. Now we're getting a few blueberries for the first time. I planted them several years ago and just this year figured out that I needed to cover them too. Apparently we've been providing quite a feast for the birds over the past few years.<br />
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Our Community Bible Study class ended for the year last month, and they had their usual end-of-the-year children's program. As usual, it was more cute than anything else, except maybe chaotic. Still, I'm thankful we can both be a part of this program. Cooper has learned many Bible stories and songs, and it's an opportunity for him to be with other children from Christian families, and for me to study the Bible and fellowship with other adults.<br />
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Cooper went to his first baseball game recently, the Nashville Sounds. It was kind of sentimental for me, as my dad used to take my brother and me when they first started playing in the 80's. This is their last year to play in their old stadium, so I was glad Cooper got to see them there, and I got to see them one more time. I'm not a big sports fan, but I do like going to games every now and then.<br />
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And now it's summer (well, not officially, but school is out, Memorial Day is past, and it's HOT, so I consider it to be summer). We have joined the Y, and Cooper is taking swimming lessons this week and next. He loves the water, and I enjoy it too.<br />
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We're looking forward to some visits from out-of-town family members and more. Hopefully I'll stay in the blog mode and be better about writing more faithfully.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-59258800856215096312014-03-25T07:10:00.000-05:002014-03-25T07:40:02.559-05:00Forty Bags in Forty DaysJust before Lent began, I saw <a href="http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2014/">this</a> challenge going around Facebook. Several of my friends said they were going to take it on. At first I just ignored it, but finally I actually opened the blog and read it and thought, "I can do this." So I have been.<br />
<br />
Though it corresponds with the season of Lent, I wouldn't necessarily consider it a spiritual thing, though in some sense it is: letting go of "stuff" I don't need.<br />
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The idea is to take on one project per day, one area of your house, for the 40 days of Lent (taking Sundays off), clean it and get rid of one bag (any size) of clutter. This can mean throwing it in the trash, giving it away (Goodwill or otherwise), or setting it aside for a garage sale.<br />
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I haven't been overwhelmed by it, though it has kept me busy. Actually, it (along with the warmer weather) has energized me, and I'm accomplishing much more than I thought I would. My husband loves it (he actually (lovingly, of course) called me a "hoarder" when I told him I was going to do it, which further fueled my fire).<br />
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I have cleaned closets, desktops, my garage (which had to be broken down into several separate "projects"), cabinets, my freezers, my car and more. I have gone through some boxes of old papers and gotten rid of a lot of them. I have organized Cooper's clothes and toys, getting rid of some that he has outgrown, and traded out his changing table for a chest of drawers someone gave us, that has been sitting in our garage. I have yet to run out of ideas and don't think I will before the project is over.<br />
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My house is cleaner and more spacious, and I feel lighter knowing it's all gone. Plus, I have gotten to take several trips down "memory lane" as I come across old things, and have even shared some toys and books from my childhood with Cooper.<br />
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I hope to do this every year, though I doubt future years will be as dramatic as this one, since I have already gotten rid of a lot. I guess it doesn't necessarily have to be done during the season of Lent, but that's what works for me.<br />
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This is a project that I would recommend to everyone, especially to other "hoarders" like me. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-84506341273477559452014-03-04T16:37:00.000-06:002014-03-04T16:40:29.194-06:00Praying for America During LentIf you would like to join me in praying for our country
during this season of Lent, this is a list of things I have come up with to
pray for day by day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe these are
things God wants for us and have included a scripture for each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are just suggestions and are by no
means exclusive; feel free to pray in any way the Holy Spirit may lead you.<br />
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Wed, 3/5 – Praise God for His sovereignty (Acts 4:24)</div>
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Thu, 3/6 - Praise God that He is slow to anger and abounding
in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8)</div>
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Fri, 3/7 - Ask God what areas in your own life you need to be
cleansed of and confess those to Him (Psalm 51:10)</div>
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Sat, 3/8 - Pray for the theory of evolution to fall to the ground
and die (Genesis 1:1)</div>
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Sun, 3/9 - For marriages and families to be strengthened and
the divorce rate to fall dramatically (Matthew 19:6)</div>
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Mon, 3/10 - For children to be taught to respect their
parents (Ephesians 6:1) </div>
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Tue, 3/11 - For any sexual activity outside of the marriage
between a man and a woman to be regarded as sin (Hebrews 13:4)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wed, 3/12 - For our leaders to fear God and seek His will in
leading our country (Psalm 2:10-11)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thu, 3/13 - For the people of our country to honor God and
His word (Romans 1:21) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fri, 3/14 - For same-sex marriage not to be acknowledged in
any state (I Corinthians 6:9-10)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sat, 3/15 - For God’s protection from our enemies (II Samuel
22:4) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sun, 3/16 - For us to honor the Sabbath as a country (Isaiah
56:2) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mon, 3/17 - For our welfare system to not support those who
are capable of working (II Thessalonians 3:10)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tue, 3/18 - For the word of God to go out in our country and
not return void (Isaiah 55:11) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wed, 3/19 - For Christians to band together and stand up
against the evil (Romans 1:32)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thu, 3/20 - For the Ten Commandments and other scripture to not be banned in
any public buildings (Isaiah 59:14)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fri, 3/21 - For the worship of idols to be replaced with a
fear of God (I Thessalonians 1:9)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sat, 3/22 - For the truth about God’s role in our nation’s
heritage to be taught in our history books (Psalm 77:11)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sun, 3/23 - For our children to be taught God’s truth so
they can share it with the next generation (Psalm 78:5-7)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mon, 3/24 - For our judges to use God’s commandments as
their standard (Leviticus 22:31)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tue, 3/25 - For God to have mercy on our nation (Psalm
143:1)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wed, 3/26 - For courage for Christians for stand up against
evil (Ephesians 6:13)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thu, 3/27 - For unity among believers (Psalm 133:1)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fri, 3/28 - For spiritual revival in this country (Psalm
85:6)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sat, 3/29 - For many to repent and be saved (Romans 2:4)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sun, 3/30 - For our president and other leaders to
acknowledge God and allow Him to direct their paths (Proverbs 3:6)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mon, 3/31 - For churches to grow and be strengthened (Acts
16:5)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tue, 4/1 - That the fear of offending God would be greater
than the fear of offending man (Ecclesiastes 5:7) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wed, 4/2 - For our news media to focus on what is true,
noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians
4:8)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thu, 4/3 - For our country to seek God’s solutions to our
problems rather than man’s (Isaiah 55:9) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fri, 4/4 - For children to be cherished as gifts from God
(Psalm 127:3)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sat, 4/5 - For God’s definition of marriage, between a man
and a woman, to be the only definition (Genesis 2:24) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sun, 4/6 - For truth to be taught in public schools (Matthew
18:6)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mon, 4/7 - For our leaders to have wisdom that comes from
God (James 3:13)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tue, 4/8 - For abortion to become illegal (Psalm 106:37-40)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wed, 4/9 - That Christians can band together across
denominational lines and work together for God’s glory (Romans 15:5-6)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thu, 4/10 - For parents to be diligent to teach their
children God’s ways (Deuteronomy 6:7)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fri, 4/11 - For believers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit
to spread God’s word (Acts 1:8)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sat, 4/12 - For believers to hold on to God’s truth and not
believe the lies of the world (II Timothy 4:3)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sun, 4/13 - For believers to demonstrate kindness and
gentleness in correcting others (II Timothy 2:24-26) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mon, 4/14 - For our country to view all forms of sexual
immorality as wrong (I Corinthians 6:18)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tue, 4/15 - That we will not seek to do what is right in our
own eyes, but in God’s eyes (Proverbs 14:12)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wed, 4/16 - That those who walk in darkness will know the
light of Christ (Isaiah 9:2)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thu, 4/17 - That God will turn the hearts of our leaders to
Himself (Proverbs 21:1)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fri, 4/18 – Thank God that by the blood of Jesus, we are
saved eternally from our sin (I John 1:7)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sat, 4/19 - That our rulers will acknowledge that their
power comes from God (Romans 13:1)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sun, 4/20 – Praise God for offering eternal salvation
through Jesus’ death and resurrection for those who believe (Romans 10:9)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And
let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in
one body. And be thankful.</i></span>” Colossians 3:15</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-79884476909743056952014-03-03T17:34:00.001-06:002014-03-03T21:42:04.879-06:00A Prayer for MercyI recently read the book, <u>The Harbinger</u>, by Jonathan
Cahn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is written as a captivating
novel, but at the same time making a strong point: AMERICA IS IN
TROUBLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I’m not sure I agree with
everything in the book, I strongly agree that basic premise.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, dedicated to
God at the outset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
[O]n the morning of the day on
which our illustrious President [George Washington] will be invested with his
office, the bells will ring at nine o’clock, when the people may go up to the
house of God and in a solemn manner commit the new government, with its
important train of consequences, to the holy protection and blessing of the
Most high. An early hour is prudently fixed for this peculiar act of devotion
and . . . is designed wholly for prayer.<i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The Daily Advertiser</i>, New York, Thursday,
April 23, 1789, p. 2) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following this time of prayer by the people, Washington was inaugurated, and then he and other founding
fathers gathered together to pray and worship in a little church in New York City, which
was then the capitol of this fledgling country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the years that followed, as a nation, we sought to honor
God and follow His principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He
has blessed and protected us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
become one of the most affluent nations in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been a political superpower, seemingly
immune to the problems that other countries suffered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have enjoyed freedoms unheard of in other
parts of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a land of
promise that others long to come to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
has blessed us abundantly because we sought to honor Him as a country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until around 1960. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems we suddenly felt we didn’t need God or His
commandments anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took prayer and
Bible reading out of public schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
led to an inability to teach children right from wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you say something is wrong if there
is no standard? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So instead they more or less began to be
taught that it was perfectly acceptable to do anything your carnal urges led
you to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is no God, then there will be no
judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This not only led to the
acceptance of nearly every kind of sexual sin, but to disrespect of elders, and
eventually even to the killing of people who may rub you the wrong way, whether that be
a fellow student, a teacher, a parent, or an unborn child that is a by-product
of your sin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
In order to pretend there is no God, we must teach our children that the
world just “evolved,” that there was never a Creator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all just happened by chance and are really no different than animals. And we must re-write not only our science
books, but also our history books, taking out the references to the God that our
founding fathers served.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check the
literature books too – there might be a passage or two from the Bible still
left in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That must be removed as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, we can’t “offend”
anyone who doesn’t believe in Him.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Over time, we have sought to remove the Ten Commandments or
any other mention of God from public places. Our
courts no longer use God’s commandments as a standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judges now try to force those who do still have
a fear of God to forsake it and give approval to those who choose a sinful
lifestyle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly every type of sin is
actively promoted by the media. We worship idols in the form
of the Internet, cell phones, beauty, materialism, food and many others.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere along the way, "political correctness" came in. We apparently decided we feared
offending man more than we feared offending God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t matter what HE thought
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We either thought we could
protect ourselves, and handle our own money, without any help from Him, or we
were so arrogant as to think He would continue to bless us anyway, that we
somehow deserved it, regardless of our attitude toward Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We seem to think we can fix our problems with a band-aid,
with man’s solutions instead of God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are people killing each other?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
need to teach them that God says not to kill, let’s just take away their guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is homosexuality becoming rampant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than teaching people what God says
about it, let’s just defend their right to live however they want to, even trying
to change God’s definition of marriage to accommodate them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are venereal diseases resulting from sexual
promiscuity an issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry that
God says sex is only for marriage; let’s just teach our children how to protect
themselves when they do have sex . . . with anyone they want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will
fix it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what about those pesky pregnancies
that may result from it all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll just
take care of those with a “simple” procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t matter if God calls that murder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where was that church where our founding fathers gathered to
dedicate this country to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was St.
Paul’s Chapel, in New York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just barely
noticeable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At Ground Zero.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, the place where our country’s Godly roots began is the
same place that the first crack occurred in our protection after we turned our
backs on Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thus began a chain reaction
of events that may well lead to the economic collapse of our country. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did we see it is a warning from God and turn to Him in
repentance, acknowledging our sin and our need for His protection?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed for a few days after 9/11 that we
might, but we quickly went back to our old ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than being humbled by our
helplessness, we arrogantly sought to restore our country in our own strength.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We sent our military out to defend us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tightened up security in airports,
essentially taking freedoms away from our own citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as the money ran out, we took drastic measures
to keep the economy going, all the while going deeper and deeper into a hole
that we can probably never bring ourselves out of. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Christians, for the most part, are standing back and letting it all happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God is a God of wrath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He will not let our sin go on forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But He is also a God of mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe He
sent us a warning on 9/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He desires for us to
repent of our sinful ways and turn back to Him, so He can continue to bless us. But if we refuse to repent, His next warning will likely be much worse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lent begins this Wednesday, and I am planning to fast from
sugar (probably my biggest vice) and pray for our country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow I will be posting a list of things I
will be praying for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
invite you to join me in praying urgently for our country during this season of
Lent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that binding together
and praying and standing up against all of this is what we are called to do
during this critical time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“If <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">my</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">people</span> who are called by <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">my</span>
name humble themselves, and pray and seek <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">my</span> face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>II Chronicles 7:14</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-41745451560211856442014-02-27T06:35:00.001-06:002014-02-27T06:38:46.323-06:00SunriseIt is around 6:00 a.m. as I am having my morning prayer
time, pouring out my heart to God, worried about this world that my son will
grow up in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another decision has been
made that goes against God’s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gay
marriage has been legalized in Texas, a judge overruling the will of the people.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I look outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
sun has not yet fully risen¸ and the world is suspended between light and
darkness, and I have a vision of our country in this same condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are mostly shrouded in darkness now, but there
is still enough light to see by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see
this light as representing the Christians who hold onto their faith in spite of
the growing darkness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I wonder, is our country on the verge of a sunset, or of
a sunrise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will the years ahead bring
total darkness, or will the light return? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can see us going either way, but the only way I see the light
breaking through is if Christians bind together and stand up for what is right
in God’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must stand against
these forces of evil that seem to be overtaking our country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must elect leaders who fear God and seek
to do His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must teach the gospel
to our children so they can be lights in the next generation. And we must pray
like we’ve never prayed before, that the forces of evil will be broken, that we
will see a revival in this country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not about making more laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see the powers that be trying to save us by
forbidding us to do wrong: by taking away our guns, by not allowing us to
discriminate against others, by not selling food that is harmful to our bodies and
other regulations that seem good on the surface, but something is missing that
laws can never replace: a change of heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unless this nation turns back to God, no regulations are going to save
us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I look out the window, the darkness is slowing giving way
to the light of day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun is
rising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the light will overtake the
darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it gives me hope -- hope that
maybe this will happen in our country as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, how I pray that it will.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-59289461868893078522014-02-10T06:38:00.000-06:002014-02-10T07:00:04.408-06:00Thirty-Nine Months OldI'm still here! I've just been grossly neglecting my blog lately, I've been caught up in doing my family tree on Ancestry.com, which has been sucking up most of my computer time, but now I have cancelled my subscription, at least temporarily, so I can get on with the rest of my life.<br />
<br />
Don's new job is going fairly well, though it's hard work. He comes home exhausted in the afternoons, but he's thankful to have a job. His new schedule has been a bit of an adjustment for all of us; I'm trying to get up with him at 5:00 a.m., which involves going to bed earlier, which involves getting Cooper to bed earlier, which involves starting earlier to get him ready for bed . . . Plus, Don has to work every other weekend, which has been kind of hard. Hopefully at some point this will change so that at least he can be off on Sundays. It does make us all really cherish the Sundays when we get to go to church together as a family, though.<br />
<br />
It's been a pretty rough winter, weather-wise, at least by Nashville standards. We had some of the coldest temperatures we've had in several years (and a <i>really</i> expensive electric bill) and very little relief from the cold, dreary days. We had ONE nice, sunny day recently, last Saturday. Thankfully, it was Don's Saturday off of work, and we all went to the park together.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Cooper got a little guitar with some of his Christmas money and has been "playing" it all the time:<br />
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<br />
He's playing it right-handed here, but most of the time he has it upside down and plays it with his left hand. We think he's left-handed.<br />
<br />
He's finally mostly potty trained! Well, at least during the day. That has been quite a journey, involving a lot of frustration, bribery, dramatic celebrations, and more, but I'm thankful we seem to have made it.<br />
<br />
He got his first "real" haircut a couple of weeks ago (I'd been cutting it myself). He did great, and afterward we went to Cici's next door for lunch.<br />
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<br />
We went to "Discovery Center" one day with my mom, a local museum sort-of-thing for young children. Cooper had a great time!<br />
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We're still doing Community Bible Study (this picture was taken by his teacher)<br />
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and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). I met another 47-year-old mom there! She has a 4-year-old boy. We've gotten together a couple of times for play dates, and Cooper and her little boy have hit it off as friends. I'm so thankful to have someone that I feel like I can relate to.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, other than at Christmastime, we've all stayed fairly healthy this winter. I'm believing that spring is just around the corner (at least I hope it is!), and I'm starting to think about what I'm going to plant in my garden this year. I can't wait to get to go outside without bundling up, and to feel the warm sunshine on my face!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-74393829702192849482013-12-30T16:59:00.000-06:002013-12-30T17:02:09.723-06:00ChristmasI'm glad I decided to let Christmas be good, even if it wasn't perfect (see my last post), because that's the kind of Christmas it was.<br />
<br />
It begins with good news: Don got a job! He's working at Vanderbilt Hospital and seems to like it so far. He started last Monday, but . . .<br />
<br />
He was REALLY sick that day, and all week, so it was a rough first week for him, trying to adjust to a new schedule, learn a new job and find his way around a HUGE hospital, while feeling terrible. Thankfully, he only had to work 3-1/2 days last week. He is mostly, but not completely better now, and still trying to find his way around the hospital.<br />
<br />
Since business at hospitals doesn't stop for weekends and holidays, he will have to work some of both but, thankfully, he got to be off on Christmas. However, Cooper had a temp of over 102 most of Christmas day, and I wasn't feeling too great myself. We had planned to go to my mom's house, but decided to just stay home, which was kind of nice, to just relax.<br />
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<br />
My brother and his family came to town that night. I was worried we wouldn't get to see them, but by Friday, Cooper was fine, so they, as well as my parents, came over (even though Don was still feeling pretty puny and ended up going to bed right in the middle of it).<br />
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<br />
We had a fun visit with them. Cooper loves hanging out with his cousins.<br />
<br />
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I had done some genealogical research on both of my parents' families and put that in books for them for Christmas. I am hoping that Cooper and my nieces and nephew will be interested in this too.<br />
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<br />
We had a nice meal which my mom, my niece Hannah and I prepared.<br />
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On Sunday we all went to church and then out to lunch together before they drove back to North Carolina last night.<br />
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All in all, it was a good Christmas, and I am thankful for the family I have to share it with.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-50370632285531797182013-12-13T20:38:00.001-06:002013-12-13T20:41:52.553-06:00An Imperfect ChristmasYou may have heard the phrase, "the good is the enemy of the best." I think the opposite is also true, at least in relation to Christmas, at least for me. The best, or perfect, is the enemy of the good.<br />
<br />
I went to a funeral today for the mom of a friend of mine. I find myself wondering how she will have a good Christmas, this year or ever again, for she will probably forever associate the season with losing her mom.<br />
<br />
We want Christmas to be perfect in every way, but the sad truth is that for most of us, at least by the time we are adults, this is never going to happen. Maybe we have loved ones who are no longer alive to celebrate with us, or broken relationships in our family. Perhaps our troubles are financial, and we are unable to give the gifts we want to give. <br />
<br />
<br />
For a number of years, I had a strong dislike for Christmas. It always reminded me of what wasn't right in my life. There were a few things I still liked about it, like the music and going to church on Christmas Eve, but as a rule, I dreaded the whole thing intensely, and couldn't wait to get past it. (Some of you may remember the year I posted a "grinch" counter on my blog, reminding me of how many days were left until Christmas was OVER.)<br />
<br />
I'm not completely past that. I'm not sure I ever will be, but I've come a long way. Having Cooper has helped a lot. He doesn't have the "baggage" that I have, and to him, Christmas is nothing but pure joy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92fTVe-mNAtolwwv9ZAG6QMdTwb5SlhEOKY38I21bM9veLp6wcIePIFwFYE6sP4dLoRPhapXksa6onqdh0T5n6M4Z_IAjtVG9BLWSFyUq2YYh6FsLSm-vPcazpSp_5wS5sMtwKwtok8s/s1600/Charlie+Brown.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92fTVe-mNAtolwwv9ZAG6QMdTwb5SlhEOKY38I21bM9veLp6wcIePIFwFYE6sP4dLoRPhapXksa6onqdh0T5n6M4Z_IAjtVG9BLWSFyUq2YYh6FsLSm-vPcazpSp_5wS5sMtwKwtok8s/s320/Charlie+Brown.png" width="320" /></a>I don't want to rob him of it, so I am continuing to try to focus on those things I do like, and I find more to like when I see it through his eyes. Driving around at night and seeing Christmas lights has never brought me such joy as it does now that I get to witness his excitement.<br />
<br />
Oh, I still dislike the materialism and the feeling of obligation to give gifts. And the expectations of perfection that I can't completely get past still stress me out sometimes. <br />
<br />
But in my heart I have realized something: Christmas isn't going to be perfect. Not this year, not ever. But it can still be good. It can still be a time to stop the routines of life and just spend time with loved ones, laughing together and making memories. It can be a precious time of focusing on the one perfect gift: the gift of God's Son. <br />
<br />
Jesus didn't come because we were perfect. He came because we weren't; we can never measure up to God's standards, so He sent Jesus to die for those imperfections. And we don't have to be perfect to receive that gift; we just have to be humble and acknowledge that we're not.<br />
<br />
So this Christmas, I'm going to try to get past the need for a perfect Christmas and just focus on having a good Christmas. And I wish the same to you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-60913691139092441362013-12-04T20:45:00.000-06:002013-12-04T21:27:22.419-06:00Who Knew?<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To most of the
world, He was just an ordinary baby.
Apparently there was nothing about his physical appearance that would make
anyone think otherwise, but in truth, Jesus was anything but ordinary, though it
seems to have taken some sort of supernatural experience for people to
recognize that.
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6hUYo1MMfV0ku-JFaSNYRbVHnFJhosmNHlKihdTe7fqS32OSM3QqkprxzTpKIq73DXzRevBqLC_Dx1SWdvZdlhKxEXRY4i_qyZMvhp426ZW4DxEurhR2aFg-julUGlWrrsEHAXHXNps/s1600/Jesus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6hUYo1MMfV0ku-JFaSNYRbVHnFJhosmNHlKihdTe7fqS32OSM3QqkprxzTpKIq73DXzRevBqLC_Dx1SWdvZdlhKxEXRY4i_qyZMvhp426ZW4DxEurhR2aFg-julUGlWrrsEHAXHXNps/s1600/Jesus.png" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mary</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> knew. She probably knew it first (except for the
prophets who foretold it), and no one could have been more sure than she
was. To have been visited by an angel,
and then to become pregnant and give birth while still a virgin leaves little
room for doubt.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>And the angel answered her, “The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.</i></span><i> <span class="text">And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to
me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.</span></i><span class="text">
Luke 1:35, 38</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><b>Elizabeth</b></span><span class="text"> knew.
Somehow Mary knew she would know.
She is the first person on record that Mary discussed her situation with
(possibly even before Joseph). She
didn’t even have to tell her; Elizabeth already knew! Had she “heard it through the grapevine”? No, Elizabeth had apparently been told by the
Holy Spirit.</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>In those days Mary arose and went
with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,</i></span><i> <span class="text">and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.</span>
<span class="text">. . . And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,</span> <span class="text">and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb!</span> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>And why is this granted to me that the
mother of my Lord should come to me?</span> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>For behold, when the sound of your
greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.</span> <span class="text">And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of
what was spoken to her from the Lord.” </span></i><span class="text">Luke 2:39-45</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><b>John the Baptist</b></span><span class="text"> knew. Even as an unborn infant,
he apparently recognized that Mary’s arrival, with the babe in her womb, was something special.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i></i></span></span></span><br />
<div class="line" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>
<div class="top-1" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text">And when Elizabeth heard the greeting
of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.</span></span> </span>Luke 2:41</div>
</i></span><span class="text"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><b>Joseph</b></span><span class="text"> knew, but not right away. How would anyone expect him to react when his
betrothed shared the news with him that she was expecting a child? He would have known with certainty it wasn’t
his child, and Mary’s story was hardly believable. But then he received assurance that her story
was, in fact, true, and, in following through with their marriage, became the
man who had the honor of raising the Son of God.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>But as he considered these
things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.</i></span><i> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>She
will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins.”</span> . . . <span class="text">When Joseph woke from sleep, he
did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,</span> <span class="text">but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called
his name Jesus.</span></i><span class="text"> Matthew 1:20-21, 24-25</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text">The <b>shepherds</b> knew, unsuspecting though they were. It was just an ordinary night until the sky
was filled with angels, announcing that a Savior had been born. They were compelled to go see this baby for
themselves, and once they did, they wanted everyone else to know about it too!</span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>And in the same region there were
shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.</i></span><i> <span class="text">And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.</span> <span class="text">And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good
news of great joy that will be for all the people.</span> <span class="text">For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.</span> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”</span>
<span class="text">And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and on earth peace among
those with whom he is pleased!” </span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>When the angels went away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known
to us.”</i></span><i> <span class="text">And they went with haste
and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.</span> <span class="text">And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told
them concerning this child.</span> <span class="text">And all who heard it
wondered at what the shepherds told them.
</span></i><span class="text">Luke 2:8-18</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text">The <b>wise men</b> knew. We don’t know
who they were or exactly where they came from.
We don’t know how they knew, but they did. Why else would they journey through the
desert for weeks, months or even years, with nothing to guide them but a
star? Why would they bring expensive gifts
to present to a baby they’d never even met?
Why would they worship Him?</span></span></span><br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>Now after
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,</i></span><i> <span class="text">saying, “Where
is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and
have come to worship him.”</span> . . . <span class="text">After listening to the
king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it
rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.</span>
<span class="text">When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great
joy.</span> <span class="text">And going into the house they saw the child with
Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their
treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.</span></i> <span class="text">Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><b>Simeon</b></span><span class="text"> knew.
God had promised him he wouldn’t die until he saw the promised Messiah,
and he knew when he saw this baby that God’s promise had been fulfilled. The Holy Spirit came upon him, and he
prophesied:</span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>He took him up in his arms and
blessed God and said,</i></span><span class="text"><i> “Lord, now you are letting your
servant depart in peace, according to your word;</i></span><i><span class="text"> for my eyes have seen your salvation</span> <span class="text">that
you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,</span> <span class="text">a
light for revelation to the Gentiles,</span> <span class="text">and for glory to
your people Israel.”</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="top-1" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>And his father and his mother
marveled at what was said about him.</i></span><i> <span class="text">And Simeon
blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for
the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed</span> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>(and a sword will pierce through your own soul
also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”</span></i><span class="text">
Luke 2:28-35</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><b>Anna</b></span><span class="text"> knew, an elderly prophetess who apparently
lived in the temple. She too, wanted to
tell everyone.</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><i>And coming up at that very hour
she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for
the redemption of Jerusalem.</i></span><span class="text"> Luke
2:38 </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">What did all
these people have in common? They were
males and females, young and old, Jews and Gentiles, but they all knew. They knew because they found out in some
supernatural way. God used some method
to open their eyes and allow them to see something that others didn’t.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text">To most of the world, He <i>was</i> just an ordinary baby. This world will soon celebrate Christmas, but
what are they celebrating? The birth of
a baby boy over 2,000 years ago, but do they really know that He was anything
but ordinary?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text">Only if God has revealed it to
them, if through the Holy Spirit, He has opened their eyes to this fact. Only then, do they know that this baby was
God in human form, come to earth to bring them salvation through His death on
the cross. Only then will they believe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I</b></span> know. And I am
forever thankful for my salvation, which came through this baby born in
Bethlehem.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do <b><i>you </i></b>know? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><i>At that time Jesus declared,</i></span></span><span class="woj"><i>“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden
these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little
children;</i></span><i> <span class="woj"><span id="en-ESV-23486">yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. . .”</span></span></i><sup> </sup><span class="woj">Mt. 11:25-26</span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="first-line-none" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text"><i>These things
God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything,
even the depths of God.</i></span><i> <span class="text"><span id="en-ESV-28389">For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that
person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except
the Spirit of God.</span></span> <span class="text"><span id="en-ESV-28390">Now we
have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that
we might understand the things freely given us by God.</span></span> <span class="text"><span id="en-ESV-28391">And we impart this in words not taught by
human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those
who are spiritual.</span> </span></i><span class="text">I Cor. 2:10-13</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-14454631234668276752013-11-30T15:37:00.000-06:002013-11-30T15:40:59.688-06:00Three Years Old (and then some)Hi. Remember me? I haven't forgotten about my blog; I've just been involved in some other projects and have been neglecting it. So . . . I'll try to cover two months in 1 post.<br />
<br />
My baby boy is three now! Since our birthdays are only three days apart, we did most of our celebrating together. We went out to eat, and Daddy made us a chocolate pie for dessert.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Cooper got a bicycle helmet, which he LOVES, and a dump truck, which Don is a little jealous of.<br />
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<br />
He got a number of other things, including a new wagon (a hand-me-down from a friend of mine) . . .<br />
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<br />
. . . and a new "big boy" bed!<br />
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<br />
We also celebrated on Cooper's birthday by bringing cupcakes when we had lunch with our friends that we go out with after church most Sundays.<br />
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<br />
On the Sunday before Halloween, we went to "Awesome Autumn," which was a Halloween alternative at a local church. Cooper wore the same costume he wore last year, which he had almost, but not quite, outgrown. He still looked pretty cute in it (at least in his mom's opinion).<br />
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We've been going to "craft class" at my friend Debby's house every other Monday, which has been fun for both of us.<br />
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<br />
We also went to Pump It Up one day with some friends from my MOPS group, where we climbed and bounced and slid down slides and did all sorts of things that reminded Mommy that she is not as young as she used to be.<br />
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<br />
The weather has been mostly nice (though we did have our first snow a few days ago -- the earliest I ever remember, but it was short-lived). We've been making the most of the nice weather, though, and getting outside as much as we can.<br />
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<br />
We've been working on potty training. It has not been as easy as I had hoped, but we're making progress, slowly but surely. <br />
<br />
Don is still unemployed. This has been a longer journey than we ever expected it to be, but we're surviving. Hopefully something will come along soon. As we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, we are thankful that, though this year hasn't turned out like we expected it to, God has provided for our needs, and we are all healthy and doing okay. Life comes with bumps in the road, and I think we will look back on this one and be able to see the good in it. God doesn't always do things according to our plans, but His plan is far better, and we are holding on to that knowledge.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-53408290197516701372013-10-05T08:44:00.000-05:002013-10-05T08:44:38.746-05:00Bradford, TennesseeCooper and I had an interesting day yesterday. At least it was interesting for me; I'm not so sure what Cooper thought about it, but anyway, he behaved pretty well.<br />
<br />
We went with my mom and her sister, my Aunt Gene, to Bradford, Tennessee, to research our family roots. It's north of Jackson, a little less than 3 hours west of Nashville.<br />
<br />
Our first stop was in Skullbone, just a few miles east of Bradford. This is Skullbone.<br />
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We had some family who lived in this town, including a cousin who was the second postmaster there, probably around 1900.<br />
<br />
Then it was on to Bradford, for just a brief drive through town on our way to Trenton, to meet my fifth cousin, Tom, who I tracked down while doing some genealogical research. He is a public defender there. My mom had contacted him beforehand, and he was able to get off of work and meet us for lunch. We had a nice 2-hour visit with him and learned more about the family still living in the area.<br />
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After that, we went back to Bradford and found my great- and great-great-grandparents' graves at a little cemetery out in the country. By this time Cooper had been riding in the car and sitting in a restaurant for way too long, so I let him run around in the cemetery. I know, it is sort of disrespectful, but I turned around at one point and caught him doing this.<br />
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In Bradford we found the house my grandmother grew up in and met the lady who lives there now.<br />
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We also saw the building where the drugstore once was where my great-grandfather was a pharmacist in the late 1800's and early 1900's. <i>His</i> dad, my great-great-grandfather, had been a doctor in the area. He had his office in the front of his house and made his calls on horseback. After he died, in the 1860's, his wife, my great-great-grandmother, took over his practice.<br />
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We got back, exhausted, around 9:00 last night, but it was a really fun day, and I'm glad we got to do it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-1604869595819823082013-09-19T22:37:00.001-05:002013-09-19T22:37:16.577-05:00Thirty-Five Months Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow -- I can't believe the big 0-3 is just around the corner!<br />
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We've been enjoying the waning days of summer. We've had a little cooler weather, but still mostly warm, and we've been getting in all the water play we can, which is especially nice when Cooper gets filthy "working" in the garden.<br />
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Speaking of my garden, it is still doing well. We've got quite a few things still coming in, including my experiment for the year, loofah. Yes, just like the sponge you may have used for your bath. This is what they look like, growing on a vine. If all goes well, I'll soon pick them, peel them, and wash them, and we'll have lots of loofah sponges . . . probably more than we'll be able to use for the rest of our lives. Oh well.<br />
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We had a visit this month from my Aunt Gene, my mom's oldest sister, and her husband, who live in Richmond, Virginia. They are both in their mid- to late-eighties but are doing remarkably well. This is my mom on the left and Aunt Gene on the right, at McNamara's, the Irish restaurant where we ate with them, one of our favorites.<br />
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We started back to Community Bible Study a few weeks ago. Cooper, who had been really looking forward to going, decided when we got there that he was going to be shy and laid down in the doorway of his classroom, refusing to go in.<br />
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In the end though, with a little coaxing from Mommy, he went in, and had a wonderful time. I am loving watch him grow and develop a heart for Jesus.<br />
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He also loves music and goes about the house singing and playing his keyboard or whatever other instrument he can find. Don and I are glad of this too and look forward to seeing what musical talent he will hopefully end up developing.<br />
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For Labor Day, we had a church picnic at Long Hunter State Park. We went on a 2-mile walk around the lake with a few
friends from church and saw lots of cool wildlife, including several
deer.<br />
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My friend Debby decided to do an art class for preschoolers at her house. We have just been one time so far, and Cooper really enjoyed it. We will probably do that twice a month.<br />
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Whew! It's been a busy month, but a fun one, for the most part. Don still doesn't have a job, though he has a few possibilities in the works. This has definitely become a lesson in relying on God. Hopefully he'll have something soon. Meanwhile, we're making the most of his time at home and enjoying the extra time we are getting to spend with him.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-13819729064650064142013-08-17T20:10:00.001-05:002013-08-17T20:36:10.165-05:00Wilson County Fair 2013Wow -- two posts in one day! What is the world coming to??<br />
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We've been doing a project with Cooper where we have him put a marble in a jar every time he obeys the first time we tell him to do something. We told him when he got his jar filled up, we would do something special. We didn't say what it would be, because we didn't know how long it would take him to fill it up. You can read more about this <a href="http://pooroldtiredmama.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-marble-jar.html">here</a>, if you want to.<br />
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So, his jar was almost full, and he has been talking about going to the Wilson County Fair ever since we went last year. This week we were down to just a few marbles, so I told him if he could get his jar full by today, we would go to the fair. He worked extra hard, and dropped his last marble in last night.</div>
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This morning it threatened to rain, but in the end it was actually pretty nice weather for the fair, so we went and had a good time. He got a few extra indulgences, like a ride on a "stagecoach" (I'm not big into fair rides) and some cotton candy. <br />
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His favorite part, I think, the thing he most remembered from last year and wanted to do again, was this:<br />
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Whatever.<br />
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There were lots of animals which he enjoyed petting,<br />
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and some big tractors for him to climb on too.<br />
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All in all, it was a fun day for all of us. Even Nash, though he didn't get to go, got a special souvenir from the pet exhibit.<br />
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I think Cooper considered it a good prize for his efforts, and hopefully the new skills he has learned through this project will carry on for a long time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-35172040080892363022013-08-17T09:11:00.001-05:002013-08-17T20:31:35.199-05:00Thirty-Four Months OldSummer has been in full swing, and we have been making this most of it. We've spent time with friends, going to water parks and other fun places. Cooper is shown here with my friend Laurie, at the Bicentennial Mall.<br />
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Don's parents came for a visit, and we spent a nice weekend with "Mimi and Granddad."<br />
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Cooper and I went to Memphis with my mom to visit her college roommate and longtime-friend, Alice. While there, we went to an orchard and picked peaches, which Cooper loved! We are still enjoying them.<br />
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My garden is giving us lots of goodies, and Cooper's sunflowers opened up. We have since cut them down and are drying them so we can hopefully eat some of the seeds. We've gotten some potatoes too, squash and LOTS of tomatoes. We've had so many cherry tomatoes that I am just having to let some of them rot because we can't eat them or even give them away fast enough.<br />
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Cooper is so inquisitive, learning new things every day. He is going through a very sweet stage that we are enjoying (almost) every minute of.<br />
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Still no news for Don on the job front. Prayers are appreciated as he continues to search and fill out applications, waiting for a phone call or e-mail. He gets very frustrated and discouraged some days.<br />
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We are looking forward to starting back to Community Bible in a couple of weeks. I am so thankful that Cooper loves learning about the word of God. He goes around the house singing Bible songs and loves our Bible story time each morning. We pray daily that he will grow to know and love Jesus and live for Him, and we are blessed to see that happening.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-44470507051424179122013-07-18T21:29:00.001-05:002013-07-19T07:59:33.738-05:00Thirty-Three Months OldIt's been a busy month, but a mostly good one.<br />
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Besides the vacation that I already blogged about, we've had a few more adventures, most of which involved playing in water, very appropriate for this time of year.<br />
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We took a family trip to the Bicentennial Mall, built in 1996 in celebration of Tennessee's 200th birthday. It is an outdoor park (not a shopping mall), where you can walk around and learn all about the State of Tennessee.<br />
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It also has an area where there are fountains symbolizing the major rivers in the state, which children can play in. Cooper had a blast!<br />
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We went back a couple of weeks later with my friend Laurie, and once again, Cooper enjoyed himself immensely. It is right next door to the Farmer's Market, so we went there too and got a few goodies that I don't have in my garden.<br />
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A few days later we went to another water park, near the Titans' stadium, with one of my friends from MOPS and her two boys, one of which is Cooper's age. He loved that one too.<br />
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My garden is doing very well. We have had an unusual amount of rain this summer, which has been great for it, and we have gotten all kinds of things from it: green beans, cucumbers (I made pickles with some of them), tomatoes (Cooper pops cherry tomatoes like candy), herbs, peppers, and now squash, which I have been trying to prepare in creative ways so my family will eat it.<br />
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<br />
We tried to potty train Cooper after our trip, but that didn't go so well, so we decided to just put it on hold for a couple of months and then try again. People tell us it's easier if you wait until he's three or so. <br />
<br />
Nothing yet on the job front for Don, though he's been doing some temporary, part-time work. It's been kind of nice having him around more, though, so we're enjoying that while we can.<br />
<br />
All in all, we're loving the carefree days of summer and making the most of them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-18796534768015866862013-07-06T14:39:00.000-05:002013-07-06T15:00:02.860-05:00Lessons from a Chimney I was walking one morning while visiting my brother’s family in the mountains of
North Carolina, when I noticed an old stone chimney standing in the midst of
the brush beside the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got me
thinking.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It
appeared the fireplace side faced the road, just a few feet away from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why would the fireplace face that way?” I wondered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That would have put the house
right in the middle of the road.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moments later I felt silly as I realized this house had stood long
before the paved road on which I now walked ever existed.</div>
<br />
So what
happened to the house?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likely it
burned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did the fire start in that very
fireplace, a result of a wife’s effort to cook the game brought in by her
husband, or just to keep the house warm on a cold, winter’s night?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What
happened to the family who lived there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did they escape and build another house nearby, perhaps leaving descendants
who still live in the area?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s possible they all perished in the
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, there were no fire
alarms in the house to awaken them at the first sign of smoke, no phones to
call 911, bringing a fire truck racing to the rescue, its siren blaring as it
tried to get there as quickly as possible to save some remnant of the home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More
likely neighbors came running when they smelled smoke or saw it billowing over
the treetops, bringing buckets to bail water from the nearby creek to throw on
the fire and try to keep it from spreading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps heroic men ran inside the burning house, risking their own lives
to try to save a sleeping child.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it
was too late, at least to save the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The family, if they survived, would have to start again from scratch,
cutting trees down in the woods with an ax or a hand saw and building a new
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No insurance money would come in
the mail to reimburse them for their losses, though perhaps a group of friends
or neighbors may have rallied together to help them through this time of
hardship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This
family would have lived by the sweat of their brows, growing their own food and
storing it up for the winter in root cellars or canning jars, smoking
meat from the animals they hunted down, or perhaps, if they could afford it, a hog butchered in the fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
probably sent their children out to pick berries on summer days, dodging
snakes, bears, Indians and other dangers, known or unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they lose their food supply in the fire
too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What, then, did they eat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, there would be no food stamps from
the government.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or possibly
they had already moved out of their home long before it burned, maybe migrating west
in a covered wagon in search of new opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life
was much harder then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harder, but
simpler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no cell phones
ringing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No soccer practice or piano
lessons to rush to after school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
Facebook to catch up on each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
simply didn’t have time for such frivolity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A house didn’t need to be big and beautiful with a lush lawn and fancy
cars parked in the garage; it only needed to serve as a shelter for the family
who lived there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Was it
better, or worse, than the lives we live now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could argue either way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was much more dependence on one’s family, church and community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People probably found more satisfaction in their
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was joy in simple
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Divorce was nearly unheard of,
as it was almost impossible for either a man or a woman to raise a family on
their own. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A person who became widowed
usually quickly remarried anyone who was available and willing, without regard
for whether they were “in love,” or whether that person would make them happy
for the rest of their life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just
needed a companion to help them survive and care for their family.</div>
<br />
They had to be strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to work hard, day in and day
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medical care and sanitation weren’t nearly as
advanced, so most people were much more familiar with the sting of death than
we are today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as a people, they
survived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survived to carry on the human
race, to move forward and leave behind a heritage that we now enjoy.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
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I’m
sure this old chimney has quite a story to tell, a story I will probably never
hear because it is lost to history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it represents the lives of generations past, people who helped make us who we
are today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A past that we, too, will
someday be a part of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Our forerunners left behind a legacy of hard
work and perseverance, of depending on God and on each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which leaves me to wonder, what is the legacy
that we are leaving behind for generations to come?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-38818432226874343172013-07-05T14:48:00.000-05:002013-07-05T14:48:46.546-05:00Family Vacation '13 (Part 2 - Great Smoky Mountains)After we left Boone, we drove to the Smoky Mountains, where we had rented a cabin for 3 nights. This one was back in the "sticks," at the top of a REALLY steep hill. We liked it okay, but it was a little unnerving for us city people to feel so far from civilization.<br />
<br />
The first day we drove through the Smokies to Cherokee, an Indian reservation on the North Carolina side of the park. The drive was beautiful, and we stopped to hike on the Oconoluftee Trail, one of only two hiking trails in the park that allows dogs.<br />
<br />
Cooper is sort of in an in-between stage, where he thinks he's too big to ride in a stroller (and this wouldn't have been a great place for a stroller anyway), but he's not really ready for long walks either. That presented a little challenge, but Don and I took turns piggy-backing him when he got tired of walking.<br />
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There is an old farm there that people can tour, which we have done before but not this time, since we had Nash with us. <br />
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<br />
The next day we left Nash at the cabin and went to breakfast at a pancake house (a family tradition) and then into Gatlinburg and walked the strip and got a few souvenirs. This time we made Cooper ride in the stroller, which made things more pleasant for all of us. I have a special liking for handmade soaps, so I got a few different bars of it there and also some saltwater taffy, another favorite of mine.<br />
<br />
Afternoons and evenings were spent relaxing in the cabin, which had a nice porch on the front with rocking chairs and a screened-in one in the back with a swing. It also had a jacuzzi that was so big Cooper thought it was a swimming pool, and a hot tub. There was a little TV, but no Internet, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. <br />
<br />
The last morning we checked out of our cabin and then drove through Cade's Cove, where we saw some beautiful scenery and lots of wildlife: turkeys, deer (including a tiny, speckled fawn with its mother) and a mother bear with two little cubs.<br />
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It began to rain while we were in Cade's Cove, and we drove through rain most of the way home, but for the most part we had really nice weather while we were there and in Boone, even a little cooler than usual for this time of year.<br />
<br />
It was a fun trip, and I'm thankful things worked out so that we got to take it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-79815866335987427482013-07-04T10:01:00.001-05:002013-07-05T14:53:20.134-05:00Family Vacation '13 (Part 1 - Boone, NC)We had already planned our family vacation before Don lost his job, so we decided to go ahead and do it.<br />
<br />
We went first to Boone, NC, to visit my brother and his family. We loved their mountain home, sitting in the chairs on their front porch and enjoying the beauty all around us! It was great to see them, and Cooper had a fun time visiting with his cousins. <br />
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We celebrated my sister-in-law's and my nephew's birthdays.<br />
<br />
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My very talented nieces gave us a wonderful concert, which included an impressive rendition of "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider."<br />
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<br />
They gave us a tour of the town and, among other things, we saw Samaritan's Purse, where my brother works. <br />
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Then we went on a hike and took in some of the beautiful scenery in the area.<br />
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On Sunday we went to church with them, then packed up and headed for the Smokies.<br />
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(to be continued)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-83138716332562290192013-06-17T22:27:00.002-05:002013-06-17T22:27:50.545-05:00Thirty-Two Months OldSummertime is in full swing, and we are loving it! Besides taking swimming lessons, we've been busy doing other things too. <br />
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Memorial Day brought a family outing to the Ellington Agricultural Center, a favorite place to go for a walk, enjoy nature and see the police horses.<br />
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We've had quite a bit of rain. One rainy day brought a turtle into our yard from some unknown place. Cooper was very interested in this and still talks about it, weeks later.<br />
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The rain has been great for my garden. I get such a "rush" from seeing the seeds pop up out of the ground, that by the time they had all come up, I decided to double the size of it and plant some more things. It's been a lot of work, but we're starting to reap the rewards. We have gotten lots of lettuce and radishes, and tonight we had our first sugar snap peas for dinner. It's looking like we will soon have some green beans, cucumbers and tomatoes too.<br />
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Cooper's sunflowers are doing well. They are now taller than he is!<br />
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Of course, we get really filthy doing all these things, and have to come in and take a bath. But Cooper usually enjoys that too.<br />
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Don got laid off from his job a couple of weeks ago. He got a pretty good severance package, so we'll be okay financially for a while. Prayers are appreciated that he'll find something, preferably a good job that pays well and has good benefits, not too far away, and one that he enjoys, before his severance runs out. It's been kind of nice having him at home, but it's a little stressful for both of us, not knowing what's next. God is in control though, and for that, we are very thankful. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-32095513760979401742013-06-14T22:17:00.000-05:002013-06-14T22:20:06.120-05:00Swimming LessonsCooper has been taking swimming lessons at our local YMCA this week. He had never been in a "big" swimming pool before, so I was a little apprehensive as to how he might do. I needn't have worried. He LOVED it!<br />
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His class was for kids 6-36 months old. It was designed for a parent (me) and child to take together, so that while the child was learning, the parent was also learning to how work with the child and teach him further.<br />
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He began learning to float on his tummy and on his back, stroke with his arms, kick, and put his head under and blow bubbles.<br />
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We stayed afterward a few of the days and went to the outside pool. They had a splash pad that he liked playing in, but his favorite thing of all was sliding down the slide . . . over and over and over . . .! I was afraid he wouldn't want to go back into his structured class the next day after he enjoyed this so much, but he did. He loved it all!<br />
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We may join the Y for the rest of the summer, now that we know how much he loves swimming, and to give him more practice doing it. At any rate, we have definitely found something that makes our little guy happy! ( :<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-39531414778310654982013-05-21T21:31:00.001-05:002013-05-21T21:31:37.101-05:00Thirty-One Months OldSpring seems to finally have sprung! I have a bigger garden this year than I've had since Cooper was born, and I have Cooper "in training" to be my helper. Actually he planted some sunflower seeds himself, which are doing very well. I can't wait until they start to get really big! Hopefully he'll get bitten by the gardening bug too.<br />
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We had a brief visit from Cooper's Uncle Doug, Don's brother, who was passing through town from Pennsylvania.<br />
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We have finished Community Bible Study for the year. They had a children's program on the second-to-last day, which Cooper participated in. He didn't sing too much, but he sure did look cute up there (at least in my possibly biased opinion). ( :<br />
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Someone gave Cooper a secondhand bike, and we recently got it fixed up so he can ride it (with training wheels). He's getting pretty good at pedaling, though he's still got some work to do in the steering and stopping departments. We've got to get him a helmet pretty soon too.<br />
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We've had a lot of nice weather this month, so we've played outside a lot, at home, at the park, or whatever other creative places we can come up with.<br />
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And, we like to eat popsicles. Life is good. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-79588511079071093832013-05-04T14:57:00.001-05:002013-05-04T14:57:59.423-05:00Mid-South Live SteamersYesterday my friend Laurie invited Cooper and me, along with another friend of hers who also has a little boy, to a semi-annual event in Columbia (south of Nashville) that I didn't even know existed: <a href="http://www.midsouthlivesteamers.org/">Mid-South Live Steamers</a>. <br />
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It was a fun day-all the way around. The weather was beautiful. Cooper behaved, and I think everyone had a great time!<br />
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This park is full of miniature (1/8 scale) railroad tracks, and apparently there are people who collect working steam-engine trains that are smaller than a real train but big enough for people to ride on. Twice a year, they invite the public to come ride them. We went over bridges, through tunnels and around the park, about a 10 or 15 minute ride. There were about 6 trains running, and the wait was never too long. Of course, we went on a Friday; it would probably have been longer on a Saturday.<br />
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We brought our lunch and ate it there, and besides the trains, there was a playground to play on and live music playing. <br />
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Everything was free except concessions and souvenirs. They even gave us free books! <br />
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What a great day! I think this is definitely something we will do again. Thanks, Laurie!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-57940587350068389002013-04-15T07:35:00.000-05:002013-04-15T07:35:36.024-05:00Thirty Months OldI can't believe Cooper is 2-1/2! Everyone told me time would fly, and they were so right! My only defense is to savor every day and take lots of pictures!<br />
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We had a fun Easter all the way around. Besides having my family come visit, we went to a local egg hunt the day before. Cooper had a great time hunting eggs, petting baby chicks and ducks, riding a train and playing on bouncy inflatables.<br />
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And while we were having fun, we also focused on the meaning of Easter, using books and Resurrection eggs to begin teaching Cooper about Jesus' death and resurrection. Of course, he doesn't fully understand the concept at this point, but I pray that he is hiding these truths in his heart, and we will be able to build on them. Our greatest prayer for him is that he will someday come to know Jesus as his Savior.<br />
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He also had his first trip to the dentist this month. He wasn't too receptive initially, but with a little bribery on my part, he did finally let the dentist examine him. They didn't actually do a cleaning this time, but just examined him to check on something I was concerned about, which turned out to be nothing serious.<br />
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Afterward, we went to the lake to feed the ducks (the fulfillment of my bribe).</div>
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We renewed our zoo membership, and went there one day as a family,<br />
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and another day had a play date with one of my MOPS friends who has a little boy his age, as well as 3 other small children.<br />
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I saw an example of Cooper's sweet side there when her baby was crying, and he went up to her stroller to check on her, saying gently, "I'm sorry, baby."<br />
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Since our snow a few weeks ago, we've had mostly pretty weather, and we've been getting outside a lot to enjoy the sunshine. I love springtime!<br />
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And I love my baby boy!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838372869573186268.post-74140628510732895312013-04-06T21:17:00.002-05:002013-04-06T21:17:46.362-05:00A Happy EasterIn the years since we've been married, we've had a tradition of having family and friends over after church for homemade pizza and an indoor egg hunt for both adults and children. Last year we didn't get to have it because my brother and his family had moved out of town and were unable to come, though we did have my parents and some friends from church over for pizza.<br />
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This year, we were back in business. My brother's family came to town for a few days and the egg hunt was on! I thought his kids might be getting too old for it (ages 7-12), but they seemed to have just as good a time as ever (which may have been helped by the extra challenge of finding hidden $5 bills in the house). Even Cooper participated this year, though he had his own eggs and didn't compete with everyone else.<br />
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He had a blast hanging out with his cousins.<br />
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We also had a belated celebration of my brother's 40th birthday<br />
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and had mini flute and piano concerts.<br />
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We had lots of fun,<br />
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<br />
good pizza<br />
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and lots of silliness.<br />
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It was a day I think everyone enjoyed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0