GRATEFUL!

GRATEFUL!

What a beautiful word!!

A word to be worn by every Christian! 

In everything, give thanks....(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

It is God's will.

How grateful I am to have family who make that an easy adjective to add to one's day! 

From floral bouquet to YUMMY food it was the "BEST YET" as Jack says!

A big thanks to BB and Poppy for a home-cooked birthday lunch extraordinaire! (w/ a go-box of ham, home-grown tomatoes & a fave lemon-blueberry pound cake)

Much obliged as Daddy would say!

BEST DAY EVER!

BEST DAY EVER chanted Jack as he jumped up and down on the bubble wrap! 

The first time I heard the LOUD POP, I thought someone had fired a gun at our house! 

Then, the BIG surprise--- my daughter came in with a bouquet of flowers mixed with cards from every family member I've ever had along with hometown chums and even a few PiPhi sisters. Her goal was 80 cards for my 80th......and then some!

Oh Happy Day! (Romans 12:10)

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!! SURPRISE!!!

EARLY AM CALL FROM NY!

PRAYER FROM TEXAS!!

SINGING FROM NORTH CAROLINA!!!

BBC TV  from our 3 kids

A work of art from cedar wood our FL artist who, with his wife, sits on the back pew w/us at FBC here in Bryson........

...& cards, texts and emails from family & friends that blessed my heart!

Grandparent's DAY Prayer was a special boost---9 times over!

I heard from each one of them via a BIG BritBox surprise subscription!

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN!

LOVE AND UNITY = FAB FAMILY, GOOD FOOD, A HEALING BOO-BOO & an unrevealed surprise!

A place filled with many fun memories of laughter and yummy food!

An old pic from back in the day!

Still not open in April 5, 2026. Glad we kept trying!

Jarrett House employees tried to find help for my "boo-boo" from their first aid kit but they accepted my rolled up sock of ice without criticism.

Grandboys rocking w/ Grandmother as their mom, who is a real photographer, took the pic! 

Love and respect are a part of married life, regardless of the number of years. (Ephesians 5:33)

RESULT---a good time was had by all 6 of us from age 8 to almost 80!

BURN DAY!

A somewhat foggy beginning to our day.....

turned into a burn day!

But...it was much more than that! Think analogous of true friendship in both neighboring and faith!

Note 2 people seen through the bottom left window pain. AKA friends!

Together making way for a clearer mountain view and some wildflower planting.

LISTEN FOR GOD'S VOICE!

In my noisy world today, with text dings, doc appointments' portal emails and loud music when on hold for a credit card company investigating a hack, it's difficult for me to hear anything without fear & confusion.

But God has a voice---I just need to listen. 

Then, I heard a train a-comin'---it was a subtle nudge to remind me of quieter times. Times past. My childhood home had a on S.  Virginia St. just past Dixon's grocery. Even trips to Mama Davenport's 2nd St. in Clarksville past Ft. Campbell, KY had a RR crossing down the hill to be heard from her front porch! Memphis college dorm and Central Avenue rental both provided train a'comin' toots and clackity-clacks to urge us to run across Southern for a class or wait patiently in car 

Even today's extra loud GSMR.... 

....took me back to those sweet Polar Express rides with my two youngest grands.

Those noises are so rich with memories I can still be surrounded by an inner quiet/stillness which allows ears to hear as I continue to listen for God's still small voice. Think internal prompt from the Holy Spirit.

Being still ---still listening. 

GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE!

When I open my computer, my eyes receive a needed boost!

If it's an early AM opening it's a double boost..............

......I'll take it! 

A foundational prayer of love and trust!

SATURDAY SMILES!

God created plant life. God said and it was so.

God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11)

Daily, I too, see that it is good.

GOD uses the beauty of creation to show His love for us.

Friends and neighbors use it to bless our hearts more than once.

Even if the card is signed with dog, Emme's name.

Lovely flowers are the smiles of God's goodness. (William Wilberforce)

Well said, Mr. Wilberforce. 

I concur..... with a smile!

MARRIED BLISS!

When a couple has been married for 57 years, there's definitely advantages! 

Often one can finish a sentence for the other. 

These days I totally depend on hubby to answer questions that have left my memory bank. But.....we share most of the same memories. This past week I could not remember the name of a radio program we once listened to as we traveled.

Earlier, my Word A Day calendar gave us a jump start on finally coming up with the program's name. 

Woebegone, an English word for "affected with woe." Spelled differently but the pronunciation took us to the "location" of the program, Lake Woebegon.

Each weekly show ended with a "fun" quote!

"Where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average". 

An unusual shared experience but one we both finally remembered when we had 2 heads working on the same answer.

Prairie Home Companion.

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

That MY joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full! 

John 15:11. 

Above was MUHH verse on Monday in prep for all my upcoming doctor visits. Today, I went back to it because "Weariness Won" yesterday and I knew I needed to focus on others today, not self! 

Joy, joy, joy comes from self-sacrifice and delighting in serving others. God's teaching is always "anti-self". (MUFHH 9/2)

Be rightly related to God because that's where you will find true joy and renewed energy for both self and more importantly for others!