It's November

It is November.  Usually this time of year in Cherokee, Texas the ground is brown and all vegetation seems to have gone to sleep.  Well God has found another way to bless us.  We have had more rain than usual, the grass is still green and I have roses and petunias blooming.  This morning was the first  really cold morning.  It has been so spring like.

Most everyone knows I don't like cold.  I think I am going to be cold until July. It happens every year but usually before now.  Another blessing.  So many are pleased with the cooler weather and I am happy for them.

 You see even though I will be miserable others will feel great.  It is like a cartoon I saw years ago.  It showed a farmer praying for rain for his crops and at the same time a family was praying for sunshine because they were going on a picnic.

The way we look at things is important.  We can't always have our way.   If we did we might not appreciate it but would expect it. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11 that he was content in what ever state he was in.  It would be good for us to try that.

So I will just put on more sweaters and jackets and be thankful others are feeling good.

Are you content?

Who would have thought...

Who would have thought a skinny girl from Westside, Georgia would grow up and be able to do so many things, go to so many places and meet so many people? It was never in my mind that these things would take place.

 I have been married to a wonderful man for 45 years. I have four great children and two precious grandchildren and two daughters-in-law and one son-in-law.  I am so blessed but it doesn't stop there!

I have had the opportunity to go to Russia and teach women on two different occasions.  I was able to go to Egypt, Israel, Greece and Rome last year. And at other times I have been to Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, and Grand Cayman. Not to mention all the states I have been to and lived in.

I have taught all ages in Bible Classes, camps and also at work.  I have had a foster daughter, kept other children in my home for short periods of time and helped out in some of the cottages at a children's home as part of my job.

I have met so many wonderful people and have been encouraged by so many.  For the last twenty five years I have lived in the most amazing community.  We average about 250 people if you count the occasional hunters and visiting grandchildren.  We have seen many babies born, many sweet ones die and many move away and some move in.  We get together on many occasions such as our six man football games (by the way my husband announces the games and I help spot), Fall Festival, volunteer fire department fund raisers, community Christmas party, fund raisers for disaster relief, forth of July celebration, graduation, etc.  It is a special place.

I would say that I am truly blessed.

As I said before Who Would have thought............

Springtime

After spending several months freezing or at least being cold we look forward to spring.  The flowers bloom and if you are in Texas the bluebonnets are amazing this time of year. The birds begin to sing and lots of baby animals are born. It is like a new beginning.  Coming out of the dark into the light.

Sometimes during spring it gets cold and dreary again.  It is like we are being teased.  But think about it for a minute. God is in control and just maybe He wants us to remember that.  If we get too used to the beauty we might not appreciate it as much.

Coming out of the darkness into the light.  Jesus is the light.  Flowers bloom in the light.  We need to bloom in the light-Jesus.

Something to think about.

Grandma's Christmas

We had Grandma's Christmas at our house this year.  That might sound strange to some of you but that is what it was labeled and I must say I liked it being called that.  I am Grandma!  You see it was the first time in many years all our children, their spouces and our grandchildren were all together with Doug and I for Christmas.  Actually it was after Christmas but it was still a celebration together.

We ate together, played games together, took pictures together and some of us even worshipped together.  We laughed alot.  Grandma's Christmas was fun. 

You know what is not fun?  Sickness.  Some of us ended up sick.  The flu struck.

It is never fun to have sickness at your house. Doug has the flu. I have read where many of my friends have been sick or had family members that were sick. It is never fun.


Sometimes we have to endure the bad to realize the good.  To be thankful for the good.

It wasn't fun for Jesus to die on that cross either but because He did we can celebrate the good------HEAVEN!

Noah

When Doug was getting ready for his by-pass surgery a nice man stopped by. He is a volunteer at the hospital that has been through the surgery and lets the patient know what to expect.  On this day he brought his grandson, Noah.  He wanted to see first hand what his grandfather did.  A few days after the surgery Doug had a visit from the volunteer.  He told us Noah had been concerned about Mr. Suggs so he came to see so he could let Noah know how he was doing.  This was special to us.

Last Saturday Mr. Nix, the volunteer and his grandson Noah and granddaughter, Ali stopped by our house.  This was such a wonderful surprise.  Noah got to see first had that Mr. Suggs was doing well.

After they left I began to think about the Noah of the Bible.  Noah was told to build an ark that would save him and is family from a flood.  Now there had never been rain before so you can imagine how this looked to the people watching.  Noah had great faith in God.  He built that ark even though the people laughed at him.  He and his family and lots of animals went into this ark and it began to rain. 

Now they were locked in an ark with lots of smelly animals while it rained for 40 days and nights.  Then even longer while they waited on the land to dry and for God to open the door.  That takes lots of faith, and patience.  They were rewarded for their actions.  For the faith they had in God.

How is your faith today?  When troubles arise how do you handle them?  Do you trust God to see you through them or do you try to handle it yourself?

Something to think about.