Sand

Many are the grains of sand in a 3 minute timer.  I wonder sometimes how many.  These are the things that wander around in my head.  Of course I googled it.  3 minute timer= 250,000 grains of sand.  An hour glass? 5,000,000.  So as I sit on the beach with the Atlantic Ocean at my feet, these are the thoughts running around in my head.  So how many grains of sand in the ocean?  I am sure there is a mathematician out there somewhere that can figure that out.  There is an algebraic equation for it!  You take the size of a grain of sand and then do a song and dance with a page or two of figures and there you will have your answer.

With my toes buried in the sand I claimed my small portion of the beach. I watched as people came and went;  just like the waves.  There were people of all sizes; big, small, short, tall, white, black, brown, red, tattooed, pierced, young, old, from babies in their mothers arms to grandmothers on walkers pushing their wheels in the sand to catch a glimpse of the ocean view just one more time.  As I sat there the waves came in and lapped up against me.  I could feel the tension leave as the waves went back out to sea.  I tried to leave all my worries and problems at home like everyone else when they go on vacation but they always follow you.  But when you sit there your problems and worries kind of become like grains of sand.  First they are too numerous to count and 2nd they are hard to keep track of and count because we can’t keep up with them.  As the water comes in, it brings new sand and as it goes out, it takes sand with it.  Always moving.  Well thats kind of how my problems or worries felt.  The longer I sat the more I could feel at ease.  The problems of life seem to fade away into the ocean leaving a feeling of calmness, not that I had accomplished anything, but somehow when you look into the vastness of the ocean and you look to the horizon and there is no end, your problems just don’t seem so big.  You know there is something bigger out there besides your little world.  I walked along the beach for many miles.  I looked into many faces; talked to many.  Never got a name but did share a smile, sometimes humor.  I always wondered what was behind their smile, behind their eyes.  What skill did they possess?  Were they heart surgeons, brain surgeons, lawyers, CEO, trash collector, did they perhaps deliver the mail in the same corporate office that the man walking beside me is a CEO?  Here at the beach everyone is the same.  No ties or coveralls, no name tags.  No way of knowing what your calling is in life unless you tell.   Are you happy or sad?  Lonely?  Rich?  Poor?  Homeless? Catholic?  Baptist?  Atheist?  So many questions but here, in the sand, does it matter?  I decided NO!  I tried to let the concerns of my life fade away with the ocean.  I watched the sun come up with thousands of people.  I saw the reflection on the water and on the surface everything was perfect; no ripples.  It reminded me of life.  Many times we reflect life around us and on our surface, life appears perfect to those that just come to watch from a distance.  But when you get a little closer you begin to see imperfections.  The ripples.

As I got farther down the shore my feet began to hurt from walking on the tiny crushed shells.  The water began to take on different shades of blue; depending on which way I was looking at it.  Then with closer inspection I saw lots of activity going on that didn’t first appear.  The sea gulls would wait for the waves to come in then go out so they could snatch the little sand crabs up and eat them.  I saw the dolphins swim in and out, up and down, following the schools of fish.  They would charge full steam ahead splitting the waters and the fish would flop high into the air twisting and wiggling.  The pelicans would swoop down and catch them; All within seconds!  Changing the lives of these creatures but yet it was a continuous cycle over and over, never changing!  It was quite amazing. And this is all that I could see.  Just imagine the activity of marine life that goes unnoticed.  Thank god I didn’t see any sharks, but I know they are there.  No whales, crabs, clams, jelly fish, star fish just to name a few.

Aren’t we similar.  To most people when they peek into someone else's life, they see the surface.  No ripples.  But then we start to notice the little things, the imperfections, the things below the surface.  And just like with the dolphins and fish flopping, thats when we begin to see the real beauty of that person.  All of their little quirks and imperfections become what we love about that person.  God has made us all unique and individual.  He knew us in the womb, knows the hair on our head.  He knows our quirks, our abnormalities!  He created us.

Matthew 10:29-30(NIV)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

I try to control every aspect of my life by making lists, making plans, following rules but I am reminded everyday that sometimes I am just like those grains of sand that flow in and flow out.  I can’t control it all. Sometimes there is a bigger picture.  Like the sand in the hour glass, my life sometimes goes up and down, turns over, same routine, same problems, same solutions.  But then once in a while I see the sand in a whole new setting, like the ocean, where the vastness takes the sand to a whole new level.  When I sit there so small and the ocean so big my problems seem small.  The answers are staring me right in the face.  I know what to do. I just have to do it.  I am not in control.  When I see that great big ocean I realize God is in control of it all.  Even when I feel it is out of control…He is controlling it.

Just like he cares for that little sparrow, he cares for me and every detail of my life.  He cares that I have the time to nourish 2 friendships that sometimes get put on a back burner because of family obligations or work.  He cares that I have time to make new memories with sisters that I rarely see.  He cares enough that He could make time for me to have a cup of coffee with a friend when we are headed in two different directions amidst two busy lives and schedules.  He sees the opportunity when we don’t. He sees the big picture.  We are like grains of sand flowing in and out. We can’t keep track of it all but God can.

Matthew 10:31 (NIV)

31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows

As the water washed over me I could feel all of lives heartaches and cares wash out to sea.  My body ached from the disease and it’s addiction to steroids; and every day as I decrease the prednisone I am reminded of my dependency on it.  But at that moment, the waters felt so healing both physically and emotionally.  There is just something about being at the beach that can take you away from life, away from worry, away from sadness, away from loss and yes away from grief.  If we let that tide that brings the sand also bring that healing water, we begin to heal.  It takes away the old brings in the new and all that sand begins to fill those tiny little crevices that have left holes in our hearts and soul.  They become scars where we once loved but lost.  Scars that remind us we loved deep and true.  Scars that remind us we loved once and yes we would love again. Do these scars disappear?  No!  But they do fade.  These same scars make us stronger, physically and emotionally.

Sunday,  August 3rd, is 2 years since I last saw the face of the one I carry in my heart now.  When I let my self think of this day there is no sand in that scar.  Its open and raw just as it was that day.  But then I remember all the love that was poured out to me and my kids.  That love was just like the sand, it came in and filled all the cracks of those scars.  It brought healing.  Of course I remember, but now I can have those memories without too many tears.  I can remember with laughter all the funny things that he did, and there were many!

Luke 6:21 (NIV)

21

Blessed are you who hunger now,

  for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are 

you who weep now,

  for you will laugh.

Whatever sadness, loss or grief you have in your life; cry!  Weep for what was let the wound be open.  But then you need to let the healing water flow over you and let the sand fill all the cracks of your scar.  Whether the healing water and sand be friends that want to help you or family that want to love you….just let them.  One day you will wake up and realize that your tears have turned to laughter.  You are having more days filled with memories that warm your heart instead of ripping it out.  Just like when you cut your finger, healing takes time.  I will not say time heals all wounds, but I can say for me, God has been merciful.  He has allowed me to feel it all; the sadness, the happiness, the tears, the smiles, even the laughter.  It doesn’t mean I feel or remember him less, it just means God has helped me, even carried me, through those hard days.  Does this mean I won’t have bad days when I am so sad because I miss my best friend? No, I will allow myself that!  But I thank God for lifting me up and pulling me up even when I felt like I couldn't be raised up. I am letting the love of God fill up the cracks in my heart!  And just like sand it is so abundant I can’t count it.  It flows over me just like the water at the ocean.

As I watched the sun come up from my balcony, it was so radiant upon the water.  I imagine that is what our heart and soul is like when we accept the love of Jesus and He shines upon us.  We can bask in the healing of his smile, shining radiantly in our life.   On Sunday I choose to remember Danny with smiles and laughter not with tears, that is what he told me before he died, “Don’t cry for me!”  I choose to continue to let that healing take place and to let that scar make me a kinder, more generous person!  I will get rid of any bitterness or resentment or anger in my life.  I will forgive others and I will apologize!  I choose to let the love of God wash over me and fill all those crevices with Gods sand!  I will treasure the relationships God has entrusted to me and I will not take them for granted.  I will be courageous!

And as long as I have breath, I will take pleasure in the smiles that warm me and in the hugs that always say “I love you”

Every day we are called to do small things with great love…

Mother Teresa

We are having our family get-together over Labor Day weekend this year (Saturday, August 30, Sunday, August 31, and Monday, September 1 which is Labor Day).   Amy wanted to host it at her house as we did the last year before Mommy and Daddy died so we discussed it last week during our sisters' week and we agreed that we would do that.

 

We will have the main event on Sunday, so people can travel on Saturday and Monday.

 

We can use both houses to stay at as we did before.   I figured all the older folks could stay at my house and the younger ones at hers cause they can bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor since she has carpet, but we need to know who plans to come (and when) so we can arrange sleeping for everyone and so we can plan food for the different meals. 

 

We want to do the White Elephant gift exchange also, so bring your presents.

 

Please inform your own family.

 

Please let us know as soon as you know whether or not you are coming and when.  We will let you know what you need to bring.  More to follow!

Voice 003.m4a

We saw the Newsboys preform this in February at Winter Jam.  The lead singer, Michael Tait, wrote this in memory of his mother.  She had a passed away a few months earlier.  If you didn't know, his sister is Lynda Randall that sings with the Gaither's at their get-togethers.  As I listened to the words that night it reminded me so much of Grandma.  Hope you guys like it :)




http://youtu.be/9vjyq02xBSk

And you should be!  Way to go Emily!

Haha Mommy...actually, 192 is passing, 220 is average, and anything over 240 will allow you to interview for whatever specialty you want (and 260 is pretty much the top end). I ended up with a 249! So, same basic principle but different numbers. ;) Either way, I am really excited!

Congratulations Emily!!  We are so proud of you :)

Emily

Emily just called. She got her step scores back for med school.   Passing is 180. Average is 240 exceptional is 260. She scored 289!  She said she could get into any field she wanted probably with that score!  Woohoo!  

http://youtu.be/0-Mr2pmuad4

Danny, Ruth, great to see pictures of the baptism! Wish I could have been there. Thank you Trish, for posting them. Lonnie, here's wishing you a Happy Birthday. Hope you took the day off to celebrate . . .but then you probably didn't . . . bet you worked hard all day. Hope everyone had a great 4th.

Danny Cadle is one more that Mommy claimed for the cause of Christ!  We see her prayers come to fruition before our very eyes!  Praise the Lord!

Lonnie's veggies

Reunited

After 48 ½ years on this earth I know to look both ways when crossing the road.  I know you shouldn’t stick things in electrical outlets.  I know better than to argue with a small child, because I’m not going to win.  Sorry to say I have learned these things by trial and error.  No…I haven’t been run over because I didn’t look both ways, but almost!  As I was driving on my way to work I reminisced about life.  If things were different, what would I be doing today?  I would be boarding a cruise to Alaska!  We made plans, Danny and I did for our 30^th wedding anniversary.  June 30^th 1984 we said I do and through many ups and downs we celebrated 28 years together.  I still celebrate the years God gave us and I am sure I always will.  Even as I move on with my life the important dates still come and go.  Birthdays, anniversaries, new jobs, kids birthdays, and then later cancer diagnosis, surgery dates, chemo, radiation, the day hospice was called in and the day he died;  All dates no one should have to go through.  But we do.  Seems like we go through everything, life, death, grief…we can’t skip any part of it, we actually have to go through to get through.  And we do…we get through it.  But just like the little things we learn in life about crossing the road, the things that keep us safe, we also learn other things in life and death.  The most important thing I have learned with the time God has given me is to trust him.  It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!  The other thing I have learned is to learn to love and cherish the ones God has given us!

We aren’t perfect, none of us are.  We all have our faults and our little habits that probably drive the one we love and the one that loves us most crazy!  But we accept it and dig a little deeper.  That one that God has given you is special in so many ways.  I think of my mom and dad who shared 70 years together and I think of how many ups and downs they must’ve faced.  When they married in 1940 and when they passed in 2010 they weren’t the same two people.  Life happened.  12 kids happened.  They struggled through job loss, death of parents, death of children; no one stays the same after that!  Thank God Danny and I didn’t experience the death of a child, but we mourned my parents and I thank God that he was there for me during that time.  The fact of life is that when we change in our marriage whether it be illness, grief…whatever it is…you change to help your spouse, that’s what we do.  We adapt.  Sometimes that means we have to do things we might not ordinarily do but because we love…we do!

1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

We forgive when we think we can’t or shouldn’t…because Christ forgave us and does every day.  We mess up, we ask forgiveness and He gives it!  Daily!

I wish in life that you could see what I see.  That little disagreements, even big disagreements, they don’t matter.  If you are willing to forgive, love will find a way.  Love will take you over!  If you can remember why you fell in love you can find a way past the hurdles and road blocks.  They are all just trials that make your relationships stronger.  After 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 50 years, and 70 years you look back on the hard times, those times that maybe you didn’t like your spouse very much but deep down you did love them and eventually you find each other again but you have to persevere!

The greatest thing God gave us is each other.  Respect it.  Love it.  Forgive it and love it some more!  Because, trust me, after they are no longer here you look back and say, “I could have loved a little more!  I could have tolerated a little more!  I could have given in just that one time.”  When the family is broken apart the devil wins.  I thank God for my 28 years that I was blessed with my complete family.  I will continue to thank God for my family, it’s just we are at different addresses.  He is in Heaven; we are Dawson, Charleston, Athens and who knows where else by the time we leave this earth.  But one thing is for sure, we will be reunited…it may take a while but we will be reunited.  For those of you still in one location here on this planet my prayer is for you to find-or refind- your spouse.  Don’t wait until you get to Heaven!

1 John 4:19 (NIV)

We Love because He first loved us

 

30 years ago

Happy Birthday Steve, hope it was a great one. Was great seeing you last month and I was telling Michael about your garage and what a super job you did on it. He was envious. He thought your bench of the Cherry log was ingenious.

Happy Birthday Steve, hope you have many many more.

Happy Belated Birthday Steve!

Steve

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Steve
Happy birthday to you!

Love the "Seeds" Trish!  How true! How very true!  Jesus was always using everyday life to teach and bring home a lesson for living!

Relay for life

Seeds

As I write these words I can hardly comprehend the time that has passed.  This is 2014 and Daddy passed March 2010.  It has been 4 years!  Wow!  I can still see him gathering flower seeds, riding the lawn mower, roaming the hills with the weed eater, collecting apples from the trees…all those things that made daddy!  As I maintain my own yard now I am reminded every time I pull a weed of the love and care Daddy took in his yard.  The flowers that are blooming in my yard have practically all been strategically placed by him at one time or another.  Anytime he came over he would pack his pockets full of seeds and I would see him roaming my yard spreading the posies around.  I usually would not see the evidence till weeks later when they began to sprout up.

 

This week on my lunch break as I walked all over town I stopped to admire and of course take pictures of some beautiful flowers along Main Street.  I noticed as I looked at these freshly planted flowers that there among the blooms were a few vegetables thrown in.  A tomato plant and a cucumber vine hidden and growing beautifully and there at the end of the row, a pear tree among a bunch of crab apples.  I thought the town of Rainelle had really come up with an excellent idea!  Pretty and plentiful!  That was Monday.  Wednesday I was in Lewisburg and as I go into Wal-Mart there is Lonnie with a buggy of flowers.  Now that is unusual for me to see so I had to look twice!  But yes, it was my brother with a cart full of pretty posies.  So we talk for a bit about the different kinds of flowers daddy used to have, about perennials, about annuals and collecting seeds.  I tell him about my walk and how the flowers looked so pretty in Rainelle.  Well wasn’t I surprised to learn that the town of Rainelle didn’t plant those flowers…Lonnie did.  And he added those wonderful veggies.  He plans on planting a strawberry or 2 also.  I thought how much like Daddy he was; sowing seeds of flowers!  Daddy would’ve approved; encouraged it and probably given him a few of his own to sow!

 

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it

I think not only of the seeds daddy sowed down through the years but the seeds that Mommy sowed.  Some have already sprouted, grown and made more seeds.  Some are laying there waiting….I believe they have taken root, they just aren’t all flowery and blooming yet.  They are getting their nutrition, water and lots of sunshine!  We just don’t see the bloom yet.  Daddy’s legacy of love of outdoors, hard work ethic, and love of family has produced many seeds, some we see, and some we don’t.  But the roots run deep, just like with the seeds mommy has sown.  Her goal in life was to see all of her children in Heaven with her one day.  She planted those seeds.  And just like daddy would bring seeds to my house in his pocket and spread them without my knowledge, Mommy was doing the same with us kids as we grew up.  The many times I would see her sitting in her rocking chair with her bible?  Seeds planted.  The many times I saw her in conversation with Jesus?  Seeds.  Being kind no matter what?  Seeds.  Praying with me?  Seeds.  I have seen many of these seeds bloom…and as I watch my children and the other grand children I see more seeds that she planted take root and they are blooming and I know that in Heaven Mommy and Daddy are thinking about their garden here on earth.  They are still watching out for us.  And every now and then I can hear daddy say, pull that weed!  Don’t let it grow because before you know it, it will take over the whole garden!  That’s those little annoying things in our life.  They all start out as little pesky weeds but if we don’t go ahead and take care of them- BAM!- they consume out whole life.  Daddy was the best when it came to killing out weeds.  He would use a dust and a spray and then he would always try a home remedy!  I can’t help but think he would’ve been a fan of Pinterest!  But the main thing was…get rid of the weed.  Don’t nurture it, don’t give it the time of day…get rid of it so the good seeds can grow; become rooted; and bloom!

I didn’t have the pleasure of being with my dad this Fathers Day but I did have the opportunity to enjoy the garden he started.  I got to see the seeds bloom that he planted.  I even got to pull a few weeds in his garden.  And just remember just because you don’t see bloom right away doesn’t mean the seeds you sow aren’t taking root and growing.  All things in Gods time…Even seeds.  So while you wait for the bloom…pull a few weeds.

Matthew 13:8 (NIV)

⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown

 

Just wanted to say "Thank You" to everyone for such a birthday celebration you gave me and Vesta when I was home on May 31. It was a surprise to both of us and I considered it very special. Was wonderful to see everyone. Daniel and Alice, sorry that you were not able to be with us. Thank you Rita and Blain for the wonderful hospitaliy. Blain you are in my prayers daily for those pains in your arm and shoulder. Rita thank you for taking me to visit your church and for being my ride to the airport. Thanks for showing me 'your prayer room' in the woods. It is awesome. Lonnie and Marsha, the visit to your house provided me the first opportunity I have experienced since high school graduation to see three of the students with which I graduated nearly 45 years ago. One of them told me the school was planning to have the 45th graduation get together later this fall. Doubt I will be able to make it but it would be nice. They would all be shocked I bet if I showed up in my Dress Blue uniform! Ruth and Dan, thanks for picking me up in Charleston. Vesta, it was a great thrill to celebrate with you on your birthday, a special day you shared with my Mom, and your Great Grandma! Trish and Jacob, want to thank you for letting me help out in your garage. I really enjoyed doing that, more than you can know. Steve, that bench you created out of the cherry log is a work of art. Shows me just how much of Daddy you have, he was never one to throw away anything and could find unique uses for things to which other people would then exclaim, "Will, I declare!" Course they were just sorry they didn't think of it first. That bench will get lots of use. The door to your bathroom is a classic example, a tribute to you Teresa. Michelle, Joe, and the girls just moved out of their house in Germany and into a Hotel in preparation for their departure from Europe. We hope to soon have them where we can actually visit with them on occasion. It will indeed be a treat. Love you all.

Happy Happy Happy

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands!  How many times have you sung that song?  Clapped your hands, stomped your feet and that was enough to know you were happy. How about this one?  I’ve got that joy joy joy joy down in my heart-WHERE? Down in my heart! Where?  Down in my heart!  Once again; we sing it, the Bible says it so it must be so!

Psalm 32:1-2 (NLV)

Joy of Being Forgiven

32 How happy he is whose wrong-doing is forgiven, and whose sin is covered! ² How happy is the man whose sin the Lord does not hold against him, and in whose spirit there is nothing false.

What is happiness?  What do you consider “Happy”?  Is it a good job with enough money at the end of the month to pay the bills with a little left over?  Is it having your family all together?  Maybe happiness to you is your grandchildren?  To some it may be “stuff”.  And that’s OK!  To those who think “stuff” will make them happy, you will figure it out eventually.  But in order to figure it out, you will probably have to go through something.  Something that will devastate you and you will try to cling to that stuff…that’s when you will figure it out.  Happiness…I am having a hard time with that one.  No matter how hard I clap my hands and stomp my feet…I am not happy.  I am trying to find someone to blame…can’t find that either.  I miss my husband and friend.  I can’t blame him, I have tried.  So how do we become happy?  What’s the recipe?  Because I really need it.  Sadness I think comes from the devil.  I am sure of it, but how do I overcome it.  Depression is not of God, I don’t know how to overcome that either!

Philippians 2:15 (KJV)

¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

I feel like my light has burnt out.  I feel like I don’t know how to shine any more, not that I was very shiny anyway, but my sadness is beginning to creep into my everyday life.  I pray…boy have I prayed.  I pray for solutions, I pray for the darkness that has invaded my soul to leave just as the clouds roll in the sky.  That’s how it feels.  I feel like one day I was happy and a dark cloud rolled over and it started to rain on my life.  The rain and dark cloud won’t leave me.  So here I sit.  But I have noticed as I sit under my rainy dark cloud, I am not alone.  I am alone under my own cloud, but there are others out there sitting under their own cloud.

Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

If we are all sitting under our own cloud, we aren’t getting very sharp now are we?!  The trouble with being sad is no one wants it.  They avoid it like the common cold.  And if they ask how you are, as soon as you start to tell them, they avoid it or leave as quick as they can.  So it’s easier for all concerned just to keep it all locked up and out of the way.  That works for a while.  Until it starts eating at you and then you get to where you can’t hide it and there ya are!

Luke 10:27 (KJV)

²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

I think if we do this, there won’t be room for sadness, no room for depression, anxiety…no room for anything but Jesus!  Is this easy?  NO!  I haven’t been able to do it.  I am trying but I need that help that comes from above.

The Great Commission.  He gave us a mission with clear marching orders.  Go make disciples…go help others…If we get it figured out enough to pass on to others then that’s our mission.

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

As I walked Sunday I tried to figure out my life. Why things happen the way they do.   I wondered why I was depressed.  Are Christians supposed to be depressed?  It isn’t from God.  Well I am here to tell you I am depressed and Jesus lives right there in my heart.  But that old devil tries to squeeze in there every chance he gets.  And it’s very often with me!  I have so many faults the devil just takes one look at me and says “happy, happy, happy!”

Lifes struggles and trials aren’t meant for us alone.  If we are doing our part in the grand scheme of things we are looking out for others.  God will send us someone with an encouraging word to lighten our load.  Sometimes He offers guidance, sometimes just a message to hang in there!  That was my case.  I got that word I needed from a friend.  So Monday as I worked I tried to not focus on my problems, not focus on ME!  My day was so much better.  I found myself reciting bible verses that I had learned years before.  Ones I thought I had forgot but they were still there.

Philippians 2:16a (NLT)

¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life;

On a normal day I leave work at 6:15p but today we were finished.  No patients so I left at 6pm.  I got a phone call from a friend I haven’t talked to in almost a year.  She was having problems with…guess what?  Depression!  We talked and prayed.  I know God has a reason for us to go through the things we do.  In all my instances I have encountered someone going through the same things I have went through.  And in each of those encounters I have been able to tell them how God saw me through.  Each and every time.  He stood beside me, wrapped me up and sometimes He even said hold on tight cause it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!  But He has never let me fall to the point I couldn’t get up! 

Psalm 119:16 (GW)

¹⁶ Your laws make me happy.
I never forget your word

 

Today is Wednesday.  It has taken me a few days to figure things out and I am still trying to figure things out.  But just like that song says, if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands, it isn’t always that easy.  We know we have much to be happy about but some days it’s just hard to be happy!  So instead of happiness I am working on the JOY JOY JOY JOY down in my heart!  Because if I have that joy, the happiness will come!  The joy will see me through my sad days.  It will see me through the days when I have nothing but tears.  Joy will be there when I don’t have words to pray.  That joy is Jesus.  That’s where my happiness will come from.

As I finished praying with my friend and we were ready to end our conversation she said these words, “Keep shining your light Trish, keep shining your light!”  I didn’t tell her how I felt about my own light being dim!  But those are the exact words I needed to hear!  God knew that!  He sent my friend at exactly that moment to encourage me.  To tell me to hang in there!

Psalm 119:35 (NLT)

³⁵ Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.

I like the laughing photo best too! Steve almost covered his face with his hand but Emily still got 'the shot!"

Mine too Bobbie!!

The laughing picture is my favorite!

Happy Birthday David

Happy Birthday David

A rhyme a verse of prose

So simple yet it can tell all our woes

But not this verse, not this story

This one is for God’s glory

A tale of a little boy

Born to bring, not happiness, but true joy

In Galatians chapter 5 we read:

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, against such things there is no law

These are the attributes as you grew into a young man, you took heed

On the day you were born June 3rd, 1951

Mommy and Daddy welcomed an adorable new son

Number 5 in the line of Treadways

But one of millions in the line of Gods”way”

When Mommy gazed into your eyes, 

What did she see? Because we know, yes, she was wise

Did she wonder, as with the 2 babes before you?

Were you for keeps or would God want you back too?

As days became months, months turned to years

You began to fulfill your destiny, putting to rest all fears

God had a plan for your life 

And at a young age, you took a wife

Side by side, hand in hand

You followed Gods plan and traveled all across the land.

Serving your country, raising a family

But still putting God first, happily

When life got busy and yes, sometimes hard

You would return to your roots, and there would be mommy and daddy, standing in the yard

Always waiting with arms open wide

 To welcome you home to the place where love always abides

You are doing what God intended you to do

Being the son, husband, brother, father, uncle, grandpa and patriot too

You are bearing the fruit of the spirit from Galatians chapter 5

And in John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  

I can’t help but remember as I am sure you do as well, 

The many times daddy pruned on his trees, so that the fruit would bear, to hear him tell

I think as he and mommy look upon us today, each and every one of us kids and grandkids here

They think along with our heavenly father, that his pruning was a success, as we celebrate this year.

This year of your birth, 63 in all, 

It’s been magnificent!  What do you think y’all?

Good times bad times we have to take them all

But we follow Gods lead and we cannot fall

Happy birthday my dear brother, thank you for setting such a good example

One we all can follow, sometimes coming back here to give us a sample

God be with you in the many years you have ahead of you

And don’t forget to let God lead as you continue to do

Remember your roots, from which you came

For that’s where your branches get their name.

Follow the Road

Sitting on the edge of the river bank with the fishing pole in the water, the fishing line is stretched tight across the river.  Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the water is taking the line and bait or if a fish has taken hold of it.  But one thing is for sure, the boys sitting there on the bank have the faith that there will be a fish on the other end of their line…eventually.  That’s how faith works!  You know it’s going to happen…you just wait for it.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

As I tried to find my way to the camp by the river, I went on directions Randy gave me.  They have been there a million times and I am sure they thought there should be no problem.  Follow the road, follow the road, that’s what they said.  When I followed the road I ended up at a white gate, dead end.  So back up and take a left go across the railroad tracks and once again, follow the road.  What about the fork in the road?  Stay left, all minor little details but all important.  Had I not known which way to go I would’ve ended up at the wrong place.  I figured it out with a little help.

My life is kind of like these directions.  God keeps telling me, follow the road, follow the road, but then I end up at unexplained dead ends and He says back up and go left.  I do and eventually get where God is leading me.  Sunday morning was one of those snags in the road.  It was chilly but I had my window up just a little; enough so that the cat jumped up to enjoy the fresh air.  When he jumped up all of my books hit the floor.  So instead of picking them up I decided to go ahead and get dressed for church they could wait til after.  So to church I went.  Our sermon was “The Good Soldier” 1 Timothy 6:12 fight the Good Faith.  All about faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

⁶ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

I have been struggling with my faith.  Saturday I was working out in the yard.  The longer I worked the madder I got.  This was something Danny always enjoyed.  He did the big stuff I did the little stuff.  Last year I avoided the yard all together.  Kind of like my house.  If I ignore it, it will go away.  Well it’s been almost 2 years and no, it doesn’t go away.  It’s still there.  Every reminder of him still there.  His hat is still  in the same spot, hanging there as if he is coming back.  So every weed I trimmed reminded me one more time, he isn’t coming back.  So I finally quit and went to the woods.  That was no better,; trees had fallen down during various storms, across the roadway, blocking the path. I thought how different it would’ve been had he been there.  We would walk that same path I was walking only he would decide what needed done and we would do it.  Only there isn’t a we anymore there is only me.  The same things need done except I don’t enjoy doing them.  I try…but after 2 years I still can’t.  Shouldn’t I be better by now?  I am better at hiding it.  I am better at covering it up.  I am better at changing the subject… but no I am not better.  I remember last Memorial Day…wasn’t that just yesterday?  Seems like it.  Time has passed but not the memories.  Why is that?  I had a dental appt and as it so happened there was an emergency.  So the dental assistant had to sit and keep me company.  Chit chat!  Don’t you know her husband died of cancer 8 years before…she still feels like it was yesterday.  So I guess I am not so out of the ordinary after all.  The tears don’t come as often or at least as often in public anymore.  I have learned to suppress.  Although the sadness I can’t hide.  Someone told me this weekend I was very transparent.  I don’t think I like being so transparent so that I have no place to hide.  No hiding place.  When things are out of balance they don’t work right.  I am out of balance…still.  Will that last forever?  That’s where my questionable faith comes in.  I want to have the faith that it will all work out but I am weak.  And I know that when I am weak He is strong.  So right now He should be very strong.  Life confuses me.  Kind of like the directions to Randys camp.  Which way do I go?  Left or right?  Dead ends!  I feel like a leaf floating on the river; carried by the current, this way and that.  Sometimes without a purpose or a plan just drifting.  But I know that isn’t so.  It’s just that I don’t know what it is.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

He knows my plan, I just don’t have the faith to trust him and go along with it.  After church I came home and there in the floor were all the books….still in the floor.  So I began to pick them up.  The first book caught my eye.  “Understanding How to Fight the Good Fight of Faith” by Kenneth Hagin.  Isn’t that just like God?  I had come to a dead end and He was telling me to just breathe…slow down…back up and go left.  He was telling me to go across the railroad tracks and just follow the road.  Just follow the road.  Are there going to be forks in the road ahead?  Yes.  Confusing dead ends?  Yes…but with faith I will follow the road, follow the road.  He knows my plan, my future; I just have to trust him with it.  If he has to knock over a few books to get my attention then that’s one of those minor road bumps.  I have had this book for a year now and I have picked it up, read a page or two and put it back.  But I think God is telling me now is the time to read it.  He has something to tell me and it is in this book.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

He is trying to fix my balance…If I will only see the old me…the old “we” is gone.  I am a new creature thanks to Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day

 

Faith grows with understanding Gods Word.

John 16:23 (NIV)

²³ In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name

As I follow the road…the road God has laid out ahead for me this is all I know to do!

1 Chronicles 22:19a (NIV)

¹⁹ Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.

I am sure there will be no dead ends on this path!

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day