The Wilderness Within

Mrs. Ava has been doing a series of a Bible study from The Wilderness Within, a book by Mrs. Beneth Peters Jones. It has been a wonderful series and it was an honor to have her with us. When she spoke to us it was something my heart needed to hear. I appreciated what she said about us as women and our wilderness within.

Here we are playing an ice breaker game. Each lady was given a small phrase from a hymn. They were suppose to find other women who also had phrases from that same song. The first group of women to get together and sing their song, won. We picked this game up at Mrs. Amy's church in West Virginia the other week.


It was good seeing Lisa and her daughter, Katie. Holly is a student at Bob Jones University and was home preparing a presentation for a class so she missed it. And we sure missed her!



Tammy gave her testimony at the meeting. I tell ya, you just never know what another person's wilderness is like. Her testimony will be with me for a very long time.

Mrs. Carolyn sang, All I Need, and did a beautiful job as always.

Then Mrs. Jones spoke. If you haven't heard of her book or you've heard of it and have not read it, you really need to get it. It brings things out about yourself that will take you by surprise and humble you to the very core. On a side note, she REALLY knows how to twitch her nose like a mouse. I have never seen anyone do that the way she can. Funny!

In case you did not know, October is National Dessert Month. Mrs. Ava had us bring in homemade desserts. There were some yummy desserts on that table too. Our ladies know their way around the kitchen!

We had several visitors and enjoyed having each one of them!

Our Pastor's son, Andy, just got married back in May. This is his Mother-in-law, Mrs. Jacobs. She is such a sweet lady. We enjoyed having her with us and hope she will join us again one day.

Me :)

Ladies were in several different rooms of the church supplying a fix for their sweet tooth. I won't dare tell you what Linda and Sandra were discussing. Sandra might hang me up by my toes. Sandra, if you're reading this, I'll be watching you Sunday if you kneel at the alter.

Two of my favorite ladies here. I love these women. They are so precious!!

This was a visitor, the caretaker to the Emory twins. She was so nice. I enjoyed meeting her.

Discussing stuff....

And Mrs. Parish! She is so fun to talk to. She has a wonderful sense of humor and smiles like that all the time!

Mrs. Hazel (left) and her cousin were there together. It's always fun seeing these two ladies.

Mrs. Marlett had some visitors with her. They were very sweet.

Tammy was telling a story about Abigale. I won't repeat the story on here, but I'm sure she'll tell you if you ask her about it. LOL

Mrs. Catfish didn't want me to take her picture but I did anyway. She's a precious Senior Saint in our church. A faithful prayer warrior. A sweet and genuine lady with some very interesting stories from her childhood.

Lisa and her beautiful daughter, Katie!

Lisa's beautiful daughter, Katie, and me!

My dear friend, Teresa, also did not want me to take her picture. But everyone knows I take my camera everywhere I go and that it is to be expected they will have their picture taken and end up on the blog! HI TERESA! :D

My darling and beautiful daughter, Hannah, Kelsey, and Teresa. Quite the three stooges here, I tell ya!

Here is Jennifer and her baby bump. Isn't she lovely? Her birthday was yesterday. Happy Birthday, Jennifer. We love you so much and appreciate everything you and Brother Jonathan do at church!

Mander's sweet Mother-in-law, Sylvia, was there. I just love her personality and enjoy seeing her when we can get together. She and I share the same birthday too. July 1st, in case you want to put that on your calendar. Just saying....

Hannah and Kendra stopped long enough to cheese for the camera. Thank you, girls! Y'all are beautiful!!

Here's the skit from the meeting. Enjoy!

Scripture Prints

One of my bloggy friends has been making Scripture prints so I thought I would try some. I did this one today and I like it. A pretty wooden frame and it will be lovely! You can click on it to enlarge it if you like.

HE is home and SHE is in bed!

Daddy came home this evening! I haven't spoken with him yet, but he is definitely home. Mom said he is very happy to be home and back in his recliner! They never really found out what was wrong with him, but believe it has something to do with his blood pressure medicine. They have made some changes and, Lord willing, he won't have any more problems. Bless his heart. It's just one thing after the next.

Hannah is in bed with a virus. She hasn't felt well all day today and ended up in tears this evening. She never tells us when she's sick, but her face usually gives her away. I was in the middle of cooking supper when I turned around to see her standing there with big tears in her eyes. And then when she dropped her little head on my chest I knew she was sick! She's been in bed for several hours already.

It's been raining almost non-stop today. I've enjoyed listening to it and felt very thankful I didn't have to be out in it. Justin, however, was out in it today. He's still out in it. He should be home in about an hour or so. He worked for his Uncle Bryan today and went straight to work, so I'm sure he'll be starved to death when he gets home. He signs up for his next semester the second of next month. I hope he doesn't get night classes. I worry too much about him at night!

I'm going to make a SHOUT OUT to our Tennessee cousins in Kingsport! HEY Y'ALL!!!!! It was good meeting you while you were here!! Maybe we'll get up there to see y'all sometime!!

A Good Day Indeed

I had a great day with my mom today. We dropped Justin off at school at the college and then Hannah, Harrison, and I went to clean mom and dad's house. It looked great when we left, and it was a good day all around. We had some good talk and some good laughs. I enjoyed it!

As most of you know, my mom collects tea pots. She has quite a collection of them. I was able to deliver this tea pot lamp to her from her Secret Pal at church. She just LOVED it! So to Mom's Secret Pal, you did good! It looked great sitting on her end table.


Mrs. Janet, our church secretary, dropped by to deliver some jewelry she made mom for her birthday. Again...because she collects tea pots, she LOVED this jewelry with it's little tea pots dangling. This was the bracelet.


And this is the necklace. Great job, Janet.


Daddy's doctors could not find anything in any of his tests. They're talking one more test before they send him home. When I spoke to him today he sounded like he was feeling a little better. Please continue to pray for him. We appreciate it!

Here is a video of the Henson Family singing at our church. They were here a couple of weeks ago for our church's anniversary. Enjoy!

Family Reunions

It's been an interesting weekend. Friday night our children were scattered to the four winds. Or at least three of the four winds. So Bruce and I hung around here reading, napping, and playing on the computer. It was a quiet evening, to say the least. He was exhausted from third shift and not sleeping all day and I was not feeling well. Still not.

Saturday we went to the Livermush Festival. You can click here to see pictures of that. We checked on Hannah, who was babysitting for the Douglass children while their parents were on the Sunday school bike trip. They are such cuties. Then we went to Mi Pueblito's for supper. Since my stomach was already not feeling great...or even good for that matter...I soon felt that the meal there was a mistake. One I paid for dearly all. night. long.

When we got home from eating at Mi Pub's, Justin had left a note for us that he had gone to help my mom take my dad to the hospital. He was in severe pain. They admitted him and have run several tests, but have found nothing so far. The pain started in the lower left back and began to move to the front. They put him on morphine and have run a CAT, done x-rays, ultrasounds, and today they ran a scope down his throat. We won't know anything until tomorrow. Please pray for him. And for my mom too. She, herself, has been very sick with a bad case of bronchitis. I've been worried about her being up at the hospital with all those germs. She really does not need to be around that right now.

I went to bed much earlier Saturday night than usual. But got up early to prepare something for our family reunion that afternoon. Kelsey joined us and it was good to see our family.

A Family Reunion....

is a time to remember.

A time to laugh....

a time to celebrate.

A time to share old stories...

and make new memories.

A time to see each other...

in the faces all around us.

And find reflections of ourselves...

in hearts both young and old.

A reunion is a coming together...

that strengthens the bond of family

And reminds us of the gift...

of belonging.

A chance to share our history...

a reason to celebrate our past.

A time to welcome our future...

as a family.

Walk By Faith, Not By Sight

My friend and X-neighbor, Lucy, asked daddy to speak for her support group she heads up. It is for the blind and those who are going blind. And she asked our little family to sing for them. Bruce worked third last night and wasn't home until almost noon, so he missed going with us, but the kids and I went and had a really good time. I can not say enough what a blessing it was to be around these sweet people!! I would like to go back and visit with them again. Lord willing, we'll be able to do that.

Daddy was speaking on having no fear. That we walk by faith and not by sight. Of course, presenting God's love and the gospel in the process.

I wish I had thought to take pictures. I know, right? Me? Forget to take pictures? Yes, I really did!!! I even had my camera. I did get one of daddy but it wasn't good at all. So no one will be seeing that one.

When we came home we discovered our neighbor's dog had killed our other neighbor's dog. It was not a pretty sight. Poor little poodle was thrown around like a rag doll. These things happen, though. Justin wrapped it up in a towel and took it over to it's owner. She cried and cried. I told mom she was crying like one of her kids had gotten shot. But she said she had him for eleven years. And I know a lot of people love their pets like they ARE their children. I felt bad for her, she was hurting so deeply.

So that was our day. I have a Microsoft party to go to tonight. I hope Bruce will be able to make it to that. As I said before, he worked over this morning and wasn't home until almost noon. He was going to cut his mom's grass today, but I guess that's out today since I haven't heard a peep out of him. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Please pray for Bruce's cousin, Cathy. She had heart surgery this morning in Charlotte. I haven't heard anything from the family yet. Cathy is a good Christian girl. Her brother Ricky was the one that passed away earlier this year while he was preaching a funeral. After various testing, they discovered that Cathy has the same heart disease her brother had. I hope this surgery will be very beneficial to her. We love her very much!!

Here are a couple of videos of the kids and me singing at the support group today.

Between You and Me

Thank You, Lord

Do You Get Upset?

I was reading my new book today and got so upset I had to stop reading it. There was an incident that took place with the main character and I was so mad at her I just wanted to whip her! So I put my book down and moved on to something else for a while. I'm over it now though, and ready to move on. Right now I have a cup of HOT apple cider cooling, my book, and a blanket. Soon I will be picking up where I left off. I sure hope she doesn't do something stupid again!!!

I had a great day today. Harrison took his first Language test for this year. It was on two units, with thirty-one questions and quite a large paragraph to rewrite correctly. I've mentioned before that he struggles with his reading, which as you know will affect everything else. I was very proud of him today. He did a super job on his test, making an eighty-two. By the way, his reading is really improving and he has taken a great interest in the books on our bookshelf. He has found a series of books that he is reading and has to give me a report on them after each one. He's doing great! I told him I'd give him five dollars if he would finish them all, but he had to report on each one. This is not a school project. Just something to keep him encouraged in reading.

Hannah is doing great in her Math. A friend in Paraguay sent us a CD Rom that goes along with her Math. There is a man that does the teaching. It has helped her a great deal!! Thank you, friend!!

Justin got home later than usual from the college tonight. He actually got home when he was suppose to, but up until now, they've let them out early. So I was a little worried, but then I heard his keys at the door and felt better. He came in ready to eat and is now on the phone with Kelsey.

Speaking of Kelsey, there's a video at the end of this post of Pure Harmony at church singing There Is A God. Love that song!!! Kelsey is the one in the middle. The other girl is Crystal and then Mark is singing lead. Love this group! Love these kids!!

Bruce and I had a good time together yesterday afternoon. I always have a good time with my sweetie pie. We didn't do anything exciting. Basically just rode around to a few different stores looking for a book he wants. But it was fun. We shared some really good laughs and conversation. I love him. :D

My apple cider is cooled enough to actually drink without scalding my entire mouth. So, goodnight, my friends! And stay warm!

My Family Makes Me Smile

What a Weekend!

This blog post is for the dear Deacon Brother that tattled on me to my husband about not updating my blog. I won't say his name, but his initials are Wayne Davis. So Brother Wayne, here is your updated post. HA! (I told you I'd mention ya!)

I have several pictures for you, but instead of uploading them all here to blogger, I'll leave you some links. We had ONE weekend! It was great!!

We had a really wonderful birthday lunch for my mom here at my house. My brother, John, was able to attend. My sis-in-law is in nursing school and had some school work to get finished and my nephew, Michael, was sick. So we missed them very much.

Mom is still very sick with, what seems to be, a severe case of Bronchitis. She coughed the entire time she was here, staying only to eat lunch and cake and then had to leave. I hated it was so short, but we did have a good time while she was able to be here.

Today we had one of our special couples at church renew their vows. They were married about a year ago and I have a link with captions under the pictures to let you know a little about Cindy and Deano. We had a reception for them afterwards and it was a lot of fun. They were very happy and thankful for all that was done for them.

Hannah is feeling better, but still needing to use her inhaler. She was able to sing in youth choir tonight and was also able to play her flute. Although I haven't asked her how much flute playing she was able to do. But she was over there, in her place, so I know she played a little bit anyway. :D

Once again, I am humbled to be working with Mrs. Carolyn Parker on the Christmas program for our youth choir. I'm looking forward to getting started on this. Lord willing, we'll start practicing soon.

Click here for pics of mom's birthday lunch.

Click here for pics of Cindy and Deano's wedding and reception.

The table is set, the lasagnas are ready to be put into the oven, and my family will be arriving shortly to celebrate mom's birthday, which was Wednesday.

I’m wishing you another year
Of laughter, joy and fun,
Surprises, love and happiness,
And when your birthday’s done,

I hope you feel deep in your heart,
As your birthdays come and go,
How very much you mean to me,
More than you can know.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you.

WOW! What a great trip! Hannah and I left Thursday with the ladies from our church and were reunited with Bruce and the boys Saturday night. We had a wonderful time visiting with Brother Mark and Mrs. Amy and their church ladies. We visited an Amish community in Ohio, and Hannah and I, along with Moriah, got to take a buggy ride in an Amish buggy. That was a lot of fun.

Hannah started getting sick on Thursday with a lot of congestion settling in her chest. She was miserable Friday night, but I think she still managed to have a good time. I took her to the doctor today. They did a breathing treatment on her and said to continue with the Mucinex she started on the trip and also prescribed an inhaler for her.

Brother Mark was our youth Pastor and now he is pastoring a church in West Virginia. His wife, Mrs. Amy, was our tour guide through Amish country. I can not tell you how wonderful it was to see them again. I really wish they were still here, but I know the Lord has them where HE wants them. But I do love them and miss their entire family so much!

Anyway, I did a picture video of our trip. The music in the background doesn't exactly go with the theme of the video, but all of the songs are being sung by Mrs. Amy. I hope you enjoy her music. That's another thing we miss down here...her beautiful piano playing and singing! I am so thankful for ipods!!! :D

Click here for the video.

LADIES TRIP!! WHOOT!

Hannah and I will be leaving on a ladies trip tomorrow morning. We'll be going to West Virginia to visit our former Youth Pastor's wife, Mrs. Amy, and the ladies of her church. Her husband is the Pastor of a church up there now. God has blessed them. I am so looking forward to seeing them and meeting their ladies and fellowshipping with OUR ladies too!!

We'll have a ladies meeting Thursday night, then Friday we will spending time in Amish country, and then venture home on Saturday. I am looking forward to this trip because I've missed my friend, Amy, and because I have never been in Amish country. Hannah hasn't either and I think she's excited about that too.

We're looking for a time of spiritual refreshment and much needed fellowship!

Then Sunday we will be having our church's homecoming. I am looking forward to that too. So when we get home Saturday I will make something for the dinner that will follow the service. The Henson Family will be joining us that morning and we are so looking forward to seeing them. I know they'll be a blessing.

Lots of good things happening this weekend. Looking forward to it all!!!!!

God's Word....A Guide Book or Just A Good Book?

I was reading a fellow bloggers post today, suggested by a facebook friend. I have never read this particular blog, but found his post interesting. I understand what the author was trying to say, however, I feel he was over zealous in his attempt. Or maybe he felt the way I perceived him to feel. He was really speaking in circles, as though trying not to be caught while being chased.

His first phrase in the post said, ""You should live by the teachings of the Bible." Sounds good, huh? We'll I don't believe it."

That grabbed my attention right away. After all, haven't we been taught from the beginning to obey the Bible?

As he expounded on this profound thought of his, I began to realize what he was saying is that we should not live by the Bible, but by Christ who lives in us. Which, on the surface, sounds good....maybe? But as I thought about this off and on today several verses came to mind about the Scripture.

He says in his post, "...the idea that you should live by the teachings of the Bible is false." LOL, ok? He turns around in the next paragraph and admits that he believes the Bible is God's inspired Word. And even quotes II Timothy 3:16,17, which says, "ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS." But then he turned around and said, "...if you believe that we live by the teaching of the Bible, then the Bible can become a guidebook, an instruction manual, and you can become like the Pharisees and study the Scripture, simply so that you can learn what you have to do." Do you see what I mean about talking in circles?

We must not neglect the importance of the Holy Scriptures. Yes, we must come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the glorious Words of His gospel. Which you will find instructions to that in the New Testament. There are the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And then we have Romans. A road map, if you will, on how to accept Christ. But besides the four gospels and the book of Romans, we have sixty-one other books. Sixty-one other books that are equally inspired. Equally important to the Christian that desires bearing fruit. The WORD of God is how God speaks to us. When we receive Christ as our Savior, the Holy Ghost makes Himself a resident within us. But if we do not read the Scripture and allow the Holy Ghost to guide us through the Scripture, how will we ever be successful at bearing fruit or obtaining righteousness?

One verse that came to mind today while reading this post was Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The Scripture illuminates our walk. It shines a light on our path. And then this verse, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." To say one has studied the Bible sounds very prestigious, doesn't it? But we must do more than study it. We must know it, hide it in our hearts, and put it into practice so that we know when we are in the right or wrong. When facing decision in life, the answer is in God's Word. II Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

To say that the Bible is not a guide book or an instruction manual is like saying the grass is not green or rain is not wet.

When I have questions about life in general, whether it is how to be a parent, a friend, a wife, a Christian, I go to the Bible. What does the Bible say? After all, it is God's inspired Word, right? I am seeking His wisdom for my understanding.

The Holy Ghost lives within me, but I am still covered in flesh and my flesh wants me to do what feels right. Just because it feels right, doesn't mean it IS right. Sometimes our flesh and how we feel does not line up with Scripture. That's why Matthew 26:41 says, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."

Again, I understand what the author of this other blog was trying to say, but believe he was over zealous in getting it across. We can not minimize the importance of the Holy Scripture. For it is God's inspired Word. And through His Word is how He speaks to us.

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my
mouth."
Psalm 119:103

Just Some Thoughts

You have to love the book of Proverbs. Well, the entire Bible, really. But you know, Proverbs is a book that has so much wisdom and instruction in it.

Many times I have heard parents say that it is too bad children don't come with instructions. I suppose that's true in a sense. But the truth is they do come with instructions. The Bible! And you can gain a lot of good parenting skills just going by the book of Proverbs. And on a more personal basis, you can learn how to live just by going by the book of Proverbs. Forget what Confucius said. He's dead. Go by what God says!

Here are few verses we just happened to cross while having devotions tonight and I thought they were good to chew on.

Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
Proverbs 23: 13-14 "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from Hell."

These are great verses on correcting children, don't you think? Hey, don't get mad at me. I didn't write 'em!

And then there's these verses on being friends with angry people:
Proverbs 22:24-25 "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."

If you're friends with someone that is always angry and bitter and won't let things go, you're bound to end up just like them. Those verses are an obvious warning. Wouldn't you agree?

I think there would be a lot less angrier people if we had a lot more parents that would use the rod. Don't you?

Autistic Basketball Player

I just loved this story. I'd like to meet this boy. He's precious!

Not So Fun at the Fair

It's fair time!! Last Saturday I entered some photographs of my own and a piece of art for a young man in our church. Harrison was with me and mentioned that he would like to enter some art as well. So we came home and he spent five solid hours drawing dinosaurs, airplanes, and all kinds of bugs. He decided the fighter jet would be the entry. So I took him to the fair grounds yesterday and entered his art.


The art from the young man at church was prominently displayed and I was glad because I had made a mistake when I entered it. I figured I could go in, ask them to change the category from Crayon to Colored pencil, and off we go. Nope! Fat chance. Both ladies working that area looked at me as though I had asked them to define the theory of relativity. Then begin to inform me that this is not colored pencil, it's crayon. "It looks crayon to me also, but his mother says it is NOT crayon, it is colored pencil. Can we go ahead and change it, please?

Finally, one of the ladies spoke up and said that I would have to find his entry form at the front office and have it changed there, then come back and they would change it on his ticket stub.

I said, "Can't we just fill out another entry form?"
"Oh no," She replied. "You have to go to the office."

So Harrison and I stopped for directions to the office, found the office, and then proceeded to explain to the receptionist what had happened. Again, the "theory of relativity look."

"Hang on a second and let me get the manager."

Oh boy...the manager. Really? So out comes this little lady and she tells me it's the women at the entry desks fault for not recognizing the difference between crayon and colored pencil "...and whose signature is at the bottom of this entry form?"
"Oh, that would be mine since I turned in his entry."
"Oh no, we can't have that. The exhibitor's signature must be on this entry form."
"Well, what can I do? This is the last day to enter and he's in school. He won't make it up here in time."
"Well, I'll put my initials on it and we'll let it slide this time."
"OK, but I signed my son's entry form too."
"Where is it?"
"At the entry table."

So we briskly enter the exhibit hall, make our way to the entry table, find Harrison's entry form and the manager begins to chew out the elderly lady sitting there accepting the forms. I felt so bad for her. I was embarrassed too.

Harrison signs his own name to his entry form and we walk down to the ladies at the art section. The manager begins to chew them out also. They show her the art and she, too, says, "This is not colored pencil. This is crayon."
"No, I'm telling you, his mother says it is colored pencil."
"I've never seen colored pencil look like this."
"I'm sure it is. His mother would know."

By this time I'm just so ready to go home. The manager finally tells me that she'll change it, but she knows it's crayon. Everything is changed, I thank her, let out a long sigh, and off we go.

As we approach the driveway, I realize that I had used my son's first name "Daniel" as the exhibitor and when signing his name, he used "Harrison." Did I go back?

What do you think?