Daily Walk...

Our past few days have been saddened by news of a dear Christian sister that has expressed to us her choice to lay aside her walk with Christ for a live-in boyfriend. She has boldly made it clear that she knows her choice is against the commands of Jesus, but this relationship makes her happy and she is content. My heart is full of grief over this sad news because it was so unexpected...so out of character for my friend...a friend I thought I knew.
Please keep a prayer on your heart for this dear sister. Pray we walk daily looking ever to Jesus, so the distractions of life will not entice us to turn away.

Mema News...

An extra "up" day for me...went shopping...always a plus and my special "package" arrived from Louisiana...Yippee! Why is that exciting? Well, the package contained the most precious items...colored drawings by my "grandson" [he used a lot of green], a note from my "grandson" (he wrote his name and his age) and "pictures"...yes, PICTURES! It was like going from a famine to a feast...a feast for the eyes and the heartstrings...family poses, cowboy hats, flying a kite, riding a scooter, him and his girlfriend...his GIRLFRIEND?...so you miss a visit and this is the kind of mischief his Mommy and Daddy let him get into...Just KIDDING!...He's a little heartbreaker...how could she resist? Now, I could go on and on...because I am a "Mema" and isn't that what I'm supposed to do? I will say that the rate of growth for grandchildren must double when you aren't living next door or in the same state with them and watch them grow up in still photos and hear them changing with each phone conversation you share. Lord willing, we'll see each other again.
Have a blessed day...and if your precious angels are nearby...remember to give {hugs} everyday...because you are enriched by them as much as they are by you.

Daily Walk...

The neighborhood we live in could be described as a "dog" neighborhood...chocolate labs, an irish setter, poodles, a malamute, a cocker spaniel, a pekinese, pit bulls...of course, our walker hound and springer spaniel...and this is just within "barking" distance. Our daily walks are more "chilly" of late than the past few weeks have been...our dogs could care less about the temps...they're just happy we "take" them...but the crisp winter air is certainly invigorating.
Invigorating...now that's what our Christian walk should do for the spirit within us...as we move (take action), we grow (produce) and add muscle (fruit).
Gal 5:22-23:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," "Gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
Eph 5:9:
"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth."
Matt 7:20:
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Let me share some wonderful news...Prayers have been answered...Thank you God and thank you friends. I received word today that my "childhood" friend is home and improving. There will be at least three months of therapy ahead for him, but his wife said the physicians believe he will fully recover from the auto accident. Continue to keep his family in your prayers, not only for his physical health, but his spiritual health as well...may God give him strength through this healing time. Going through such a traumatic event, that completely effects each aspect of your daily life and those you love can be so difficult. May our prayers lift him up as he works to regain his place in this life and continue striving for the life beyond.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

Windswept!

Today the temps have dropped and the "jet stream" paid us an upclose and personal visit. The winds whizzed in and out of these mountains all day...actually it did began late last night. There were sounds of "things" bumping and falling...this gave us a good indication of what we could expect for the morning...and dodge we did...limbs, garbage lids and the like. Some higher elevations in the mountains lost power due to these strong winds. After a continual whipping by the wind, few clouds remained in our skies for the evening...there were some cotton candy pink ones, trying to hang over the higher peaks. Gradually they turned to purple, as the sun sank behind the blue hills. Have a blessed evening!

"The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north: The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit." Eccl. 1:6

The jet stream in scripture...who knew? Hmmmm....Maybe the creator.

The Light Returns...

How refreshing to see the sun and the shine back in blue skies today.
Winter rains drenched us for a couple of days, bringing heavy blankets of clouds from above, that settled into the "hollers" and lay thick on the mountains from base to peak. During these times of complete cloud cover, our "daylight" is mostly a dull shade of gray...so where is the beauty now?
The scripture can give answer to the purpose in all things...even when the rain comes...

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry."
"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to and it will prosper everywhere I send it."
Isaiah 55: 10 - 11

Memories From Mommy To Mema...

This is my precious grandson...sweetest thing in my life...such an adorable little smirk...cute, huh? Todays weekly phone call to my daughter gave me yet another amusing tale for my memory banks. The newest "special moment" in his life goes something like this...
At the tender age of four, he is currently under disciplinary correction at home for defending himself at preschool with a fork ...he just happend to use the fork on a classmate...let me just say, that "poking one in the eye" takes on a new meaning for me today...and the child has never even seen one episode of the "Three Stooges"...go figure! But, you gotta love a kid that stands up for himself...I mean, he's been without his "Mema" for over a year now...he's been dealing with a "lack of Mema hugs, Mema kisses, and Mema spoiling"...of course he's going to crack under the pressure...right? [Yeah, right...] The injured "classmate" however, is doing fine...he only needed some ice and a wet cloth to tend to the injury my precious grandson inflicted upon him. [My daughter is thankful for that]
No matter what...this "Mema's" heart has complete unconditional love for this little guy...only a "Mema" understands how hard it's been for this precious one...I mean...what was that daycare thinking last year when they kicked him out, at only three years old...so he didn't want to go to the back of the "potty line" before snacktime...so he tackled the teacher like a line backer...isn't every little boy practicing to play for the "NFL"? Boys will be boys...right?
Is there anything comparable to a "grandmothers' love"?...not in my book...now if we can just get a "little sister" in the works...this "Mema" would be in grandchild heaven!

Ice Cream Skies

With the passing of the rain, our skies are full of color once more. As the sun began rising from behind the mountains this morning, its reflection on the clouds were hot pink. As the sun slowly began to peek over the mountain tops the hot pink gradually faded into a delicious sherbert orange...hmmm...my first thought...ice cream skies.
Our temps were in the high 50's today and it was beautiful...of course the North Carolina natives keep telling me it won't last...this is probably true...but I'll just pretend a little longer...lets just say I'm having a moment of denial.

Good News...Bad Weather...Crazy Workday...

News came about my best (high school) friend concerning his progress since the car accident. After undergoing another surgery on his leg (broken in four places), he woke up and recongnized his family for the first time...an answer to many prayers. Please continue to pray for this family...he still has such a long way to go...the ventilator has not been removed...so he can not talk yet.

Here clouds have filled the sky...Rain has set in...and we're getting drenched...maybe some light snow later...maybe not...we'll see in the morning. This is "cozy" up weather...can't get out to walk or sit on the porch...but Dan and I enjoy the down time.

I'm loving the new position at work, even though I'm finding it has it's own set of "crazy" office politics...that's okay...I've been there...done that, in a previous job in my home state...so it's not really uncharted territory for me. Prayer and keeping the "teamwork" spirit alive will make all the difference in a workday.

Frosted Flakes...

With a little help from the afternoon sun the icy patches melted and we were able to take a stroll through the neighborhood. This is our northern view of the mountains as the crow flies. I have found that these mountains have their own unique beauty no matter what the season...whether it is the the silent, frozen beauty of winter; the bursting with joy of spring; the hot, on fire spirit of summer or the steady, colorful change of autumn...the experience is amazing!

As growing children of our Heavenly Father, we also exhibit our own seasons of unique beauty in life...do you remember bursting at the seams with joy as a newly born child of God; or when you were burning with zeal to learn, to know, to share; do you recall as your life was maturing, your daily insights and life changing spiritual thoughts; or have you arrived with silent, graceful reflections of integrity, reverence and a firm and solid faith?

Can You Guess?

No, it's not a bowl filled with "snow" cream, but it is SNOW!
Snow has been falling here most of the day and has been accompanied by some strong wind from time to time, which has made for a rather difficult day of picture taking. However, I thought it was interesting how the snow "mounded" up on one of our light fixtures along the walkway, in spite of the wind. No one is really stirring about, so it's been rather quiet outside today...I like that about a snowfall...there is a beautiful silence that always seems to follow the snow. It reminds me of two "still" moments in the scripture...

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39

Do you make moments of "great calm" in your daily life? Are you ever still? Just as our physical body depends on moments of rest to recharge, the spiritual self depends on God for refreshing and renewal.

"Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

Ribbons Of White...

Thick and heavy fog covered our little corner of North Carolina this morning. All along the drive to work, the patches of fog would drift downward, appearing to be just within ones reach. On the edges of the mountain tops, the fog looked like God had taken white ribbon streamers and wound them all along the tree branches. It was magnificent!
During our evening walk, we captured pictures of the evening sun as it was setting, opposite an early rising moon...which was simply alone...in this beautiful cloudless sea of blue. Nothing compares to the artwork of our heavenly Father.

"You made the moon to mark the seasons and the sun that knows when to set."
Psalm 104:19

Back In The Blue...

Now that the rain has gone, we are back to blue skies and sunshine...it doesn't seem like January at all. The late afternoon sun cast a haze across the layers of mountains showing them off in multiple shades of blue...from a pale blue gray to a dusty navy...I guess that's why they call these hills here the "Blue Ridge Mountains". The mountain sky is wonderful in every season...it's full of gray white clouds banked tightly together in the winter; in springtime the wispy clouds are stretched against a soft blue sky; then summer brings a crisp, bright blue sky that fills with white on white cloud puffs and in the windy autumn, the thunderheads hang heavy in a muted blue sky as they travel through. Yes...I'm hooked on God's grand creations...especially these massive giants called "mountains"

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. Psalm 147:8

Mountain Mansion

We have had warmer temps than normal here...but thats okay...its been a blessing for those that can't afford the rising cost of heating...a little silver lining for now, from our heavenly Father. With the warmer temps, the clouds are filling up the sky, so rain is likely to be in our future. Dan and I have taken the opportunity to walk each evening with the nice weather...it is such a good workout, climbing the upward incline of this hill we live on..."isometric walking"...oh yeah.

Have you ever dreamed of living on top of a mountain? Well, while I was watching one of my favorite channels...HGTV...I discovered that the 2006 HGTV dream home is being built right in North Carolina, outside of Asheville, near Lake Lure. You can go to http://www.hgtv.com and take a virtual tour...it's really cool. Of course, this home is way out of my league, but that's why they call it a "dream home" right?

At The Close Of Day!

What a beautiful close to a wonderful day of worship. The lessons of today were centered around our Lord...his word that "endureth forever" and how he is a "living stone". Since moving to the mountains, I can appreciate the magnificent strength and endurance of "stone"...it is the very core of these mountains. "On Christ the solid rock I stand", certainly takes on a new meaning for me.

"We are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself." Eph. 2:20

To The Next Level...

The crisp and windy cold remained this morning, but sadly the snow did not. Traveling in to work, it was crystal clear where the snow had wound up...up on top of those mountain ridges. White powder covered the highest elevations of the hilltops...like the graying edges of a beard. The clouds were thick and heavy sitting just above the trees on the mountains highest peaks...and yes...the "fog" was slowly drifting down from the clouds. I know now, that it's really snow falling.
In the warmth of the workplace the cold was put aside for awhile. Today was the last day I will work full-time in the area of insurance denial maintenance. I have been blessed with a promotion to be a full-time accounts posting specialist. After only five months, I was quite surprised by the opportunity offered to me. But like my husband is always telling me...only God can "see around the corner" in life. I like that phrase...and I'd much rather have someone guiding me that can "see", than someone who thinks he can "see".

Brrrrrrr....Did You Say Snow?

The chill is in the air in the mountains this evening...thirty-five degrees with gusty winds...and what's that falling to the ground? That's right...snow was in the weather forecast and it seems to be on target, so far. Clouds began to fill the sky this afternoon...rolling in and laying low on the mountain tops...as a hazy fog covered the earthly giants...[the locals tell me that in the winter, the stuff I call "fog", is really snow falling on them mountains]. Oops!...I guess my Alabama slip is showing. By morning, the snow should be finished, so we'll see if we wake to a "white" Friday. God has blessed us with so many ways to enjoy his seasons...I love the "silence" you hear after the snow has fallen, leaving behind a covering of crisp, clean white...I love the earth waking up in the springtime, as the new plants begin to bud and bloom...I love the way a cool breeze feels against your skin, under the hot summer sun...I love the breathtaking colors, as autumn changes the green leaves to brilliant reds, yellows and oranges...yes, the simplest treasures handed down from the heavens, for his creatures to enjoy.

At The Mercy Of Priority...

What's that old phrase...a day late and a dollar short...well, the dollar short is a given and I do seem to be a day late, but I was otherwise engaged on Tuesday. One of my many "back home" sources for keeping me up to date on my home state is dear ole' Dad. I was unexpectedly given sad news about my "like a brother" best guy friend from high school. He was in a fatal car crash and has been hospitalized for the last week in Birmingham, Alabama. So far, the reports are promising and he was supposed to be taken off the ventilator sometime Tuesday. Please put him on your prayer list...his name is Greg. Both of us lived and grew up in the same little town and our families worshipped together. He was one of the "mischievous" boys ALL through my school years...you know the type...pulling girl's pigtails, turning his eyelids inside out, putting thumbtacks on your chair, hiding green snakes in the teachers desk...you get the picture...but you couldn't help but like him. He was always between either getting a cast put on or about to have one taken off. He had a big heart then and he still does today...and I would appreciate the gift of your prayers.

Even If It Rains...

Ahhh...Day 2...no clear blue skies today, just rain, rain and more rain. Even so, after a good shower here, the fog appears, like a blanket, and gently wraps around the mountains, exposing their tree lined tops as it slowly floats along the shoulders of each hill. The beauty in God's creation is infinite. As Dan and I traveled home from our belated anniversary dinner, the sky had cleared momentarily and a small sliver of moon was shining intensely above us. It was so bright that you could clearly see the shadow of its darkened side. Could we compare our walk with the Lord in similarity to the changing phases of the moon? At the beginning, our lives are but a sliver of what we could be reflecting, as we grow and learn to think less carnally and more spiritually our ratio of light to dark increases and while we continue on this walk with our Lord, we begin to shine more completely...until the circle is filled with light.

Happy New Year...Happy Anniversary!

What a wonderful way to begin the year 2006...in worship...honoring our Heavenly Father with our christian brothers and sisters. For my husband and I, our first day of the new year was special indeed. Dan and I are blessed to start each year with a double celebration...bringing in the new year and celebrating our marriage...today was our second anniversary. Our new day here in the hills was a beautiful one...warm sunshine with a side order of chill in the air served under a crisp blue sky...which by evening had softened into a muted blue and looking off into the distance the clouds were turning purple and pink, hanging just above the curve of the mountians. A glorious start to a Happy New Year!