FAITHFUL FRIENDS!

When life has been bumpy and one needs to trust His leading, trust can provide the answer! Sunday was such a time for me! A deliverance from fear of all the "what ifs" in life. A boost of new life provided by Him, through them.....Larry and Marge! We headed down Highland Rd. past Lick-Skillet thru curvy, steep mountain roads bringing tasty treats to share....but received much more! 

From the familiar tingle of patio wind chimes of the patio to the gamiliar gospel music as we walked thru the front door.

It felt like going home! Home to family, though not through physical blood, but true relationship through the blood of Christ for many years. It was Psalm 34 in action. God reunited hubby and me with a godly couple whom He has given long life. (very soon to be 97 for him & 95 for her) (Psalm 34:11-12, Proverbs 3:1-3 )

God's goodness to them has been obvious and they have passed it on. Praise to the LORD has continued as their souls boast in Him. (Psalm 34:1)

They have magnified the LORD and exalted His name together for as long as we have known them. (Psalm 34:3)

Through the years, they have given godly wisdom that has blessed us beyond measure.

Their door is always open whether in the mountains or in Florida.

Even as we left with hugs and teary-eyes they gave us their typical bell ringing send-off reminding us to return. Unable to upload that video yet.

A full long life of wisdom shared that afternoon, reminded me to turn to the Lord as my refuge and enjoy a worry-free life! I smiled all the way back down that curvy mountainous road to reality with renewed faith!

FAREWELL OCTOBER!

OCTOBER 2024..........A MONTH OF FIRSTS!

Our 1st month in a new state, 

town, 

street, 

home,

Darnell Farms

first teenage granddaughter,

new friend 

Halloween

FAREWELL!

FOREVER FRIENDS!

There are no words yet……only tears!

Rest in peace, sweet Ellen, my dear, long-time friend❣️ l love you and so cherish all our memories & times together! You will always be a part of who I am—the kind, gentle parts. 

Ellen Thomas Cockrell

 12/12/1947-10/16/2024

May You O Lord, quiet/calm alll her family and friends with your love. (Zephaniah 3:17) 

FAITHFUL FRIENDS

Trustworthy. Encouraging. God honoring. Others before self 

Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. (Ephesians 4:32)

REFRESHMENT!

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) I want to be such a  friend! Don't you?

Anne B. certainly qualifies in my life.

Yesterday she was praying for me as I traveled home! I know she was.

This morning I started my day with a "treat" from her.

A chocolate pillow cookie, though it probably has a more exquisite culinary name, and my cuppa Assam. Anne calls it browniest cookie.

A perfect lift for my travel weary bones! 

True refreshment from as friend as I open God's Word for more refreshment!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!

On the road again in the driver's seat of hubby's 4 Runner (GULP!) 

First time I had driven on the interstate in 2 1/2 years. Yet, so excited to join up with my ever praying Quad Squad.

But God....gave a BIG blessing of surprise en route! Who else could orchestrate a roadside meeting of a mom from TN with her New York son!

What a great God I serve whether at home or on the road!

FOREVER..... FRIENDS!

Yesterday's post said "nothing is forever"........ but, there is eternity for sisters in the faith!

Sometimes God in His love and mercy allows them to see each other this side of eternity. 

When we couldn't get to Ukraine in 2022, God brought Ukraine to us! 

a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. (Proverbs 27:9) *

Hallelujah! God be praised!!

*Sweet Friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God's presence. (Proverbs 27:9, TPT) 

TPT is, the new to me, The Passion Translation. I have included it in the Dancing Script font, a choice which my Ukrainian friends will understand.

FRI-YAY

FRI-YAY---a trending word....or wordplay horribly overused these days. 

All our days should be "joy-filled" yay days! But....that's not always the way it is.

If not yay words, there are words to help the seniors keep focused, especially when days have a way of running together---unfocused. 

Yesterday's Thankful Thursday, for me, was one filled with pain. Lots of pain. Physical and emotional. I would have been dismayed had I not seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13) My attitude of gratitude was challenged to the nth degree. But God....in His love and mercy, once again used friends in the faith, who knew nothing of my forlornness, to intervene.

First, high school chum, Doola's "long" text, in response to my "long" text with thx for her "winter 💖" card. Doola can lift my spirit with her art and words in an Illinois' second! *

Next a card from "northern" friend, Pat sent some smiles my way.

Then came a call from my 93  yr. old vibrant friend, Janice. Chats with her are always a treat! Her wisdom keeps me grounded.

Today began as  "Frantic Friday until I was intentionally still! (Psalm 46:10).

Then it became Fri-Yay as I took a "hike" with 3 yr. old Jack, dug in the dirt with sticks, and I sang "Jesus Loves Jack" to him.

BTW, the poinsettia, a gift from "Master Gardener" neighbor Lynda, has graced my mornings at my kitchen window since December! 

INFINITE HOPE

Sitting in the examining room waiting on the pulmonary specialist, I was re-reading my most recent letter from dear, dear, friend Ashley Bryan.
He was welcoming our #9 grandchild, girl #2! "I know you are all having a GRAND TIME Loving her as she Loves you! (Ashley's words)

Between his plan to travel to visit family in Texas and return to "his" island and resuming his painting in his neighbors gardens, he was awaiting his WWII story, Infinite Hope! --mid October '19. He and I have both been so excited to see beyond the F & Gs.

Before the doc entered, Hubby sent me a text . "Today" show Favorite FALL BOOKS w/ Savannah & a team of readers announced their fave books by categories.

Ashley's newest book, Infinite Hope, was chosen as the best in Love & Romance category by one of the panelist.

The panelist explained that this book needed to win awards and he thought "love" was an appropriate category as Ashley, who is 96 years old, shares how his love for art sustained him as a 19 year old draftee during WWII.

One reviewer stated that Infinite Hope is "both a lesson in history and a testament to hope." (S & S)
Having talked with Ashley through the years, even about his time during the war and seeing some of his sketches I knew that it had been a difficult time for him. Needless to say, I'm anxious to  receive my copy!

He has chosen to share his love for the stories of his people and his desire to preserve Black American Spiritual as his life's work. "The spirituals touch me deeply and inspire my heart's soulwork." (Ashley Bryan, I'm Going to Sing -Black American Spirituals vol. 2)

His art, which has its own "voice" and his words, have spread hope to many.

Ashley is one of the kindest people I have ever known.

A man of faith. An encourager. My friend.
A man of "infinite hope" himself who pours out love & hope to others.

How a treasure this picture with him at his home on Isleford/Little Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine. He was sharing his F & Gs (folded and gathered pages) of his book, Infinite Hope. 

A man who signed and gave me the book & a bit of his heart and hopes as we talked.

RED NOSE DAY W/ DUAL PURPOSE

Buy a "red nose" and support the charity to end childhood poverty. 

Young folks, teens and "mature" adults, with childlike glee, participate.

Celebrities don them. 

Even long-time friends, who have been an "every-day" kind of hero for me, don them!

HOW SWEET HER SMILE!!!

What a privilege it has been to grow wise by walking long side one who has been so wise and willing to share her wisdom. (Proverbs 13:20)
A friend loves at all times. (Proverbs 17:17, NIV)

CHOOSE: TO GIVE

I grew up hearing, "it is better to give than to receive." I believed it.

Later on I learned that particular "adage/platitude" was actually scriptural truth. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts: 20:35)

So.....I "give" my friend, Elnora, a special treat every month. It's her day.  "Nora's Day." 

It's always on Thursday. Except today---it was on Wednesday because of a scheduling conflict. Friends who called were confused when I said I was with her because they too know that for years, our together time has always Thursday.

This Thursday/Wednesday started with waffles at Bedrock on South Main....

....continued with a foliage hunt....(she likes pictures of trees, no matter what her sisters say.)

on the way to the National Civil Rights Museum, because she had always wanted to go...

....and onward to the Harrahan Bridge but said "NO!" to standing over the river, as she does NOT like heights!

We ended our day as we had begun it----with laughter!!

I still understand the truth of Acts:20:25 but I also know that I am the one who truly receives when I give Elnora a day. 

I guess that's the true blessing that comes from giving---receiving a blessing yourself.

Choose to give and it shall be given unto you. (Luke 6:38) 

Thanks Nora, for choosing to go with me even though you know we always get lost at least once!

CHOOSE: FRIDAY FUN

It's easy to choose Friday Fun when you're with friends---especially when it has been Friday ever since Tuesday!

God's Word says there is a friend who sticks closer than a bother. (Proverbs 18:24) I have GREAT brothers so these special friends stick with me just as my brothers do. Friends who are there through thick and thin. Friends who "nurse" you through your cancer journey.

Friends who often put your needs above their own. Friends whose very presence blesses your that you might bless others by their example.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

What fun it was to celebrate Friday together for 4 days this week!

CHOOSE: ENCOURAGEMENT

Blog readers continue to inspire and encourage me. 

So grateful Margie Horner chose to encourage me with this great text reminder!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact, you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

May I choose to pay forward this encouragement!

Gift Extraordinaire!

I have known my sweet friend Lilly longer than I have known my husband. Our friendship has spanned 50 years. In the early years we worked together.  She and her husband Fred signed for me to purchase a mattress "on time"----at $10 a month, I think. She (Fred's name was also on the invite) orchestrated a couple's bridal shower for hubby and me and both their girls were rice girls in our wedding. And.....the family introduced us to Deep Creek, even providing the tubes for tubing. It is #1 on list of favorite vacations by our family.
We've always stayed in touch. We share a love for "greens" and "Should Taste Good" multigrain chip/crackers. In more recent times, we've taken our "grands" to Deep Creek hauling the surviving 2 tubes and renting the rest. Our grandboys loved it too!

I've sat with Lilly when her husband was at the ER and later hospitialized. I even spoke at his funeral. I've visited her at several hospitals, in rehab, in two different nursing homes and most recently at her daughter's home.

Through the years she has brought me Easter goodies, scrapbook papers and handmade gifts---her paper-cutting skills are exceptional. She also made a special effort to come to "support" me when I spoke in church or at "He Cares." On two occasions when illness prevented her attendance, she allowed me to come ahead of time and "practice my speech" on her. Her approval always counts.

She has never lost her love for the Lord or her smile. He's the reason she keeps on smiling! Even her need for a walker hasn't overwhelmed her.

Today Lilly and her equally creative daughter, Melody, dropped by for a visit----what a treat!!!
At some point, Lilly must have put a "bug" in daughter Melody's ear that I had often admired her quilt creations. Which I had!!!

Voilà---here it is----"Sunday Drive," just for me. 
I love the stained glass window pattern! I love my lap quilt!  I love Lilly! I love Melody! I love Rachel! With Lilly it's a package deal!

How wise I was back in my college days to "listen" to Lilly and allow her to guide me. (Proverbs 13:20) 
I now attend the church which she has always attended and I thought was a little "weird" when she told me they didn't pass an offering plate.

Lilly has always been a kind, loving friend and now her daughters walk in her footsteps. (Proverbs 12:26 & Ephesians 4:32)

What a blessing!!

Relationships and a quilt--a gift that keeps on giving is truly a gift extraordinaire.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHLEY BRYAN!!

Dear, dear friend, Ashley Bryan, is 93 today!!

We have been friends for 25+ years---a friendship that continues to inspire and bless me!!

A birthday kiss for Ashley as hubby and I went to "his island" 3 years ago for his 90th birthday!

Today's morning "birthday call" to him ended up, as always, being a blessing to me---a real cause for celebration, as he celebrates life daily better than anyone I know.

As I was sharing that his birthday card might miss today's "mailboat," but that is was on the way, he said to me, "Dotsy, we always keep in touch even without letters or phone calls.....because you are always in my heart."

Happy Birthday, Ashley---you are always in my heart as well!

Heart of a Friend

Ah-h-h friendship---the best bouquet of all.
Character traits of good friends are highlighted in scripture.
"A friend loves at all times"----even when I don't make sense or repeat myself, she listens. (Proverbs 17:17)
"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person"---she's one of the the calmest gals I know. (Proverbs 22:24)
"Walk with the wise and become wise"---accepting a job at Houston High was a wise decision because I walked the halls there with Drenda. (Proverbs 13:20)
The flowers are still there. 1456 is still on the mail box.

But......the heart of the home now resides in Kansas City and she took a bit of my heart with her.

KINDRED SPIRITS

Kindred Spirit---a noun. Plain and simple. A person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one's own. The work place often pulls folks together with similarities---but then sometimes it ends there. Work often tends to be the only connection.

Relationships can be guarded.....with communication on the"virtual plane" easier than face to face, even from the next cubicle. Real relationships are rare.

How blessed I have been to have had relationships that have blossomed, even in the early days of my work as a school librarian. ljj is one for whom I thank God for having her as a part of my “life’s journey.”
We were like an old married couple---acceptance, listening (she did it better than I) often finishing each other's sentences, understanding, (my circular thoughts and idiosyncratic lesson prep), together calling our students "friends" (3 John 1:14) and willing standing together year after year and serving 1,000 + cups of hot tea during "National Hot Tea Month" because together we "get it!"

Morning at ljj's new  home---served with tea and devotion.

Now we are separated by miles but the kindred connection remains. Devotional times, tea times with Mary Alice Hadley (Ky pottery) and a Lucado book. My teacup is from the "Delta" where ljj's  grandaughter, Lila, lives. 

ljj will pass on the new Gloria Houston book, Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, because she knows my real name and we both love the premise of Houston's  My Great Aunt Arizona, who hugged her students when their work was good and she hugged them when it was not. Hugging encourages.

Book and cup are reminders of the importance of keeping up and staying close regardless of miles.

It's what kindreds do. As close as flesh and blood. 

When the spiritual factor is added it deepens and widens the relationship to a "kindred spirit."

"TEA-rip" with friends

I have called you friends, (John 15:15, NIV)

Our annual T-cup trip begins today. Destination unknown---until the BIG reveal later....after our sweet treat and joint tea---whatever joint tea is.

It doesn't really matter where we are going. We're just going as friends on a "girls' get-a-way." And of course we'll probably have tea somewhere along the way.

The BIG plus of this T-cup TEA-rip is that we are not only "girlfriends" at a similar season in life, but we are friends in the faith. 

That means Jesus goes along for the ride.

"pa-TEA-na"

I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord. I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other" (Romans 1:11-12, NLT)

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." That's the ditty that we used to sing with our Girl Scout leader, Mrs. Campbell (Ginger's mother) in the basement of Hopkinsville's First Baptist Church. 

Both relationships have value. Some friendships begin in one's youth & last a lifetime. Some relationships are formed later in life and last only for a season. Yet, they are no less important, especially when both are on the same side of a struggle and coated with a deep faith in the one true God. A spiritual patina. A richness.

Figuratively, patina can refer to any signs of age, which are felt to be natural or unavoidable (or both). Decorator friend, Kathi, often deliberately adds patinas as a part of the decoration of her "found" furniture. Her distressing simulates antiquity in more newly-made objects. The end result is pure "richness."
Friendship enhanced by years also has a richness---but now and again one meets a new friend who seems to come with a richness that belies the length of the relationship. A friendship that fits together---as comfortable as an old shoe and as valuable as many older relationships.

I thought of that richness this morning as I planted flowers in the patina enriched metal baskets that friend Julie had given me when she moved to DC. Looking at the aesthetically appealing metal surface of both the basket and the bird reminded me of the  richness of the relationship we shared......as if we'd known each other for ages. She would be the patina; the rusty coating (older) would be my part in the relationship.

 One of the verses of that Scout tune was so reminiscent of that season of Claudia's cancer care when "new" Julie and I seemed to be a tag team for our mutual friend---both of us working together to benefit another in the household of faith. A rich reciprocal relationship.

You help me,
and I'll help you
and together we will see it through.

Julie is now in DC and yet our friendship continues---it's as rich as the patina on the garden treasures she left me. 

A pa-TEA-na rich cuppa relationship, shared by two in a friendship that is lasting beyond a season.

A.P.B.

11/8/13 A.P.B. If there are any teenagers reading this blog or hip grannies, then the assumption might be that this is an xBox 360 game. Or, if you're of the medicare card-holding generation, you might hear the Dragnet theme in your head as you recall an All Points Bulletin that came thru their black and white squad car radios. "An APB for a white male, 5' 10, with brown hair and black glasses."

None of those are my acronym of choice.

Yesterday was out-patient surgery day for me. Not exactly an event one look's forward to---at least not this one who never relishes being put to sleep. Such an out of my control type event. Plus, it usually makes me "fro-up" as Andrew used to say.
But God....in His love and mercy sent prayers....in particular, prayers about the nurses and doc who would attend me. Prayers prayed aloud over the phone, around breakfast table, in hubby's hug and in JoLynn's car-----all preceded by a (11/4) prayer from "across the pond" (Aggie in France) that read....I pray He leaves you His calling cards all over the place to make it exaggeratingly obvious!! :-)

So....when a masked nurse, comes down the hallway saying my name and removes said mask to reveal Barbara Cook, a long time church friend, who has even been in my small group at Heart to Heart Bible Study throughout the years, I knew those prayers for me had been answered.

Just to see her there brought comfort. But when she announced that she would be my "attending" nurse......well, that was my APB.
An exaggeratingly obvious calling card from the Lord................an Answered Prayer Bulletin!