ANNIVERSARY ALTERNATIVE

8/9/13 44 YEARS! Happy Anniversary to us! 

But.....original anniversary plans went awry. So....we decided to celebrate locally----in our zip code. Around the corner. Convenient. Yet, a new culinary adventure.

Though we missed being with our friends, the "new" place turned out to be a delicious alternative. Southward has only been open a week but.....the chef knows his way around the kitchen. "Southward--Onward" is my take on it.

My halibut was the best I've ever had but my favorite thing on the plate, and it was all good, was the field pea cakes! Oh, my! Hubby's steak and shrimp risotto were also tasty and I ate off of his salad wedge topped with all kinds of goodies along with the Benton smoked ham. Too full for dessert.... though the unusual banana split was pretty tempting.

Though a negative complication necessitated a change, certainly the "fare" alternative was a positive for this anniversary couple.

Spirit of Complaint: addendum

8/8/13 Conviction was the impetus of yesterday's brief blog entry. "Complaint is not a spiritual gift."

Recalling that phrase, first heard from friend Ellen's hubby Dick and compounded by my own daughter's admonishment to NOT be a "Dotsy Downer," lead to some self-examination. I have been in the habit of defining, or more likely rationalizing, my "words" as concern or just observation. But God.....used others in my life to show me otherwise. A least no one used the "nag" word----at least not recently.

I do think that often the very same words can be used as either a comment/observation, or as an "all out" complaint. Hm-m-m.....as if there are degrees of difference. Hm-m-m-m....maybe once again rationalization is taking over.

Probably.....a complaint is a complaint, is a complaint, whether uttered through gritted teeth or "hidden" behind a grin. 

I do think that in my life the "light" has come on in this area of complaint. Where there's light there's usually conviction. I'm seeing it for what it is----sin. Complaint seems synonymous with ingratitude.

Recent trips to friend Claudia's chemo treatment and conversations with newly diagnosed friend, Mary B. were flood lights of conviction for me. Positive living. Living without complaint in the face of the dark diagnosis of cancer. Prayerful, grateful, trusting.

God sent  help in the form of a reminder. Aggie's blog comment from "across the pond" introduced me to 2 Samuel 22:29. (Which I have since prayed for myself and others.)

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. (KJV)

Suddenly, God, your light floods my path, God drives out the darkness. (The Message)

Complaint is NOT a spiritual gift. Complaint is a darkness that needs to be dispelled.

Spirit of Complaint

8/7/13 Spirit of Complaint...it's NOT a spiritual gift!

YaYa's Wisdom

8/6/13 Last week, the Texans' Texas grandmother, YaYa,  shared some insightful gems, gleaned from a counseling conference.

Two Questions---children have for their earthly parents.

• Do you love me?
• Can I have my way?

Two Questions---children (even adult ones) have for their heavenly Father.

• Do you love me?
• Can I have my way?

The answers are the same:

• YES, to the love question. 

Parents love their children unquestionably. 

In the same way, God's love for His children is indisputable. 

• NO, to the "have my way question."

Parents need to provide the foundational guidance, safety and moral direction for their children until adulthood is reached.

In the same way God provides the foundational truths needed for His children to live a life of purpose. His purpose. It's not about us! It's God's purpose for us as a part of His plan for humanity and His glory. God must continue to direct one's steps  until maturity in Christ is attained on the eternal timetable.

Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)

Thanks to YaYa for sharing her Allender Q & A. 

T-Shirt Theology

8/5/13 Nowadays a person's wardrobe has a way of espousing their belief's----at least in the T-shirt domain. More than advertising or designer logos. Sometimes a "cause" or a "beef" is front and center.

This past week I saw several T-Shirt "backs" that had me thinking and one that gave me pause for meditation. One was still hanging on a sale rack in the ice cream shop "gift" area. T-Shirt #2 was being worn by a VBS teacher eating lunch at Chick-fil-A (natch) in Lebanon, TN.

Life is bumpy. Enjoy the ride.
So true. Life sometimes offers twists and turns that we don't expect....but they are part of "our life story," as Taylor taught us on Sunday. So.......choose acceptance,  pray for God's strength and enjoy the ride as much as possible.

In order to get through the fear of those "bumps" in life that come our way.....one must choose to trust God. 

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

Focus (meditate) on God's love and power---not on those fearful bumps. Make that your theology and wear it on your own T-Shirt, if you choose.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Family Fun, Deep Creek style

8/4/13 What makes a great family vacation? Anticipation. Making do. Outdoor activities---even sleeping outside. Hot chocolate around the morning campfire. S'mores and scary stories around the nighttime campfire. Ice Cream. A hammock. Glow in the dark games. Mining. Safety. Raining as we slept NOT during the day. Rolling with the punches. Packing up the tent on a "dry" day. It also helps when the scenery is spectacular, the temps are cool and pleasant and the kids have a blast in the "ordinary" days of "no agenda" creating their own games and adventures.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1

Even the youngest (2) helps set up the tent.

Mommy braves the COLD water to "tube the creek" with her  5 yr. old

S'mores, a Nightly Treat 

Hot Chocolate by the morning campfire when the it's  52° & chilly.

Taking RELAXING to new heights.....well, sort of.

Andrew's "El-wie"---our "lone" girl cousin, among 7 boys.

The "tooth fairy" found us even in Deep Creek.

Tubing all the way to the  ice cream shop.  

Lunch served "tubeside" for a quick return to the creek.

Watermelon Cooled in the Creek

Treasure Hunting

Tom Branch Falls, view from a tube looking up 

Glow in the dark ring toss 

Cooking a yummy breakfast on a "damp" morning.

Exploring

Suspension Bridge Fun 

The cousins minus one........ 

Missing cousin found.....still exploring. 

Measuring Up

8/3/13 Measuring up. Isn't that what we all try to do? Too often, we continually try to "measure up" to a parental expectation, a culture/society benchmark, or self-induced standard. It's as if "measuring up" will bring esteem and love from others.

For some, it's a life long pursuit that is never quite attained. Adolescent girls want to be shorter or cuter, boys (in our family) tend to want to be stronger and more athletic. Everyone seems to want to be smarter or more successful by the world's measuring stick.

As I watched John Parker (5) stand on his tip-toes by the NASCAR measuring stick, all those thoughts came to mind. 

From his tip-toed positioned feet, he said, "See. I'm big (tall) enough!" 

I know that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and with God "there is therefore now no condemnation" for believers, and that He "loves me with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3 & Romans 5:8) Yet, how easy it is to see myself trough the world's eyes instead.....causing me to stand on my tip-toes as once again I "try" to measure up.

I need to trust God's measuring stick. Thankfully, because of Christ, I'll always measure up.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

8/2/13 8/2/13  GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS:
Great because a great God created them----one look verifies this!

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth-- the LORD God Almighty is his name. (Amos 4:13)

Smoky---Heading to east TN through Newfound Gap, we had more than the wispy smoky fog. We had a "view obstructing" gray drizzly mist. But I took a picture anyway because the Texans daddy had his picture taken in that very spot when he was the same age as his oldest, Nathan, who is 11. Seemed appropriate.

"Blue Smoke" in the Smoky Mountains

Mountains

God Made the Montains, the hymn I sang around the campfire with fellow teen MYF-ers at Camp Loucon, (a Christian Camp, near Leithchfield, KY) came to mind as we all stood gazing at the Great Smoky Mountains. 

God made the mountains.

God made the rolling hills.

God made the flowers.

God made the daffodils.

God made every tree.

God made you and me.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

So glad tha t my three oldest grands are going to  Pine Cove Summer Camp in 2 weeks. Maybe they'll learn the same song and it will remind them of their recent "family" camping trip to Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains.

John Parker is still looking for the view through the smoky gray mist.

Mountain Meditation

7/29/13 A misty mountain morn---a great time and place for both reflection and meditation on God's word.

• Can anyone measure the ocean by handfuls
 or measure the sky with his hands?

• Can anyone hold the soil of the earth in a cup
or weigh the mountains and hills on scales?
• Can anyone tell the Lord what to do?
    
• Who can teach him or give him advice?
• With whom does God consult
in order to know and understand
    and to learn how things should be done? (Isaiah 40:12-14)

 The answer, in essence, is no one but our Incomparable God.

That truth is probably what inspired these lyrics of “I could sing of Your love forever” Such incomparable beauty evokes singing of love for Him and His creation. I plan on singing and dancing down the creek and in these mountains!

Over the mountains and the sea

Your river runs with love for me

And I will open up my heart

And let the healer set me free

I'm happy to be in the truth

And I will daily lift my hands

For I will always sing

Of when Your love came down

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I'm happy to be in the truth

And I will daily lift my hands

For I will always sing

Of when Your love came down

Oh, I fell like dancing

It's foolishness I know

But when the world has seen the

Light

They will dance with joy

Like we're dancing now

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Boys! Boys! Boys!

7/28/13 Hooray! Hooray!! We're on our way........our summer camping vacation begins today. Boys ages 11, 9 (2), 7, 6, 5, 2, and 1 girl (7).
Have you ever tried & succeeded in  taking a picture of 6 boys with all eyes open, all smiling, all facing the camera?

Since Nathan was looking down in the group picture, he gets one of his own.