II Peter 1:5-7

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Twister

When I was a kid; it seemed like we had to go to the cellar a lot.
It was always a neighbor's cellar. It was a scary thing seeing the
sky turn black and watching those clouds.

I remember one time when we lived at Lindsay. Our neighbor with
the cellar was about 3 houses down from us. We heard the siren
and ran out of the house. You could see the tornado and it looked
so close. My mom grabbed my sister and starting running. She
asked me to go back and get my sister's shoes. Boy was I scared. I
don't think I've ever run faster. I imagine now Mom would wonder
why she was even worried about my sister's shoes.

It was definitely a comforting feeling to close that door on the
cellar and feel like you were safe.

I wonder how the little children that Jesus gathered in His arms
felt. O What a comforting feeling that must have been.

Isn't it nice to think about Jesus comforting us. We need to rely on
His comfort more often.

Callie and Charlie

My great-grandparents, were Calmaldonia (Callie) and Charlie.
They lived out in the country. They even lived on the same
place for 50 years or more. There was a little pond across the
road that my grandpa liked to go fish at.

They had some cattle and chickens. They didn't have indoor
plumbing. There was a well where they got their water. An
old wood cookstove that Granny cooked on and also helped
heat their house.

I remember Granny making homemade butter with a churn.
Thanksgiving we always had to have some fish that grandpa
caught. When I went to see her she always said how much
I was growing; then she'd say I'm going to have to put a
brick on top of your head.

Grandpa Charlie was sick several years with leukemia. He
went to the hospital and Granny said if something happens
to Charlie I don't want to live. When Grandpa had been at
the hospital a while Granny got sick and had to go to the
hospital. Her hair turned white as snow while she was in
the hospital. They said she had diabetes and her leg had
gangrene and had to be amputated. Grandpa Charlie died
and within 7-10 days later Granny died. They'd been
married 70 years. Granny just couldn't picture life without
Charlie.

I don't want to picture my life without God. I know my life
is precious to Him.

Ps 116:15 - Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death
of His saints.

Daddy Pete and His Dogs

One of the things I remember most about my grandpa,
Daddy Pete, is how much he loved his dogs. They went
everywhere with him. They were his family. He
petted them and you could tell how much he loved
them.

It was hard to understand why he had such a hard time
letting his grandkids know how much they meant to
him.

There are a lot of memories of Daddy Pete that I wish
could have been different. He seemed sad so much
of the time. Many times he'd been drinking and was
crying about something. My aunts would all say
he was sick. I finally figured it out. Grandpa was an
alcoholic. I guess he just didn't know how to express
his feelings for his family until.... my great-
grandparents died. They died within about 7-10 days
apart. I remember Daddy Pete saying I hope you know
I love you.

I guess I can look back a lot easier on that time now
and realize how it was just hard for him to express his
love.

I'm glad that God doesn't have that problem. He's told
us He loves us and He shows us in so many ways. I
can look around and see He loves me by a beautiful
sunrise. I can read about how He sent His only Son to
die for me. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Thank you God for loving me;especially the times when
I'm not very loveable. Help me express my love more
for my family. I want them all to "know" that I love each
one of them.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

The Country Store

When I was a kid Sunday afternoons were for family.
Probably about once a month we went to visit my
great-grandparents. They lived out in the country by
Bray. A very small community not far from Marlow.

My brother, sister and I knew that after the visit to my
great-grandparents and my great uncle Floyd; there'd
be a chance to stop at the country store. Uncle Floyd
always saw to that. He didn't get to see his own kids
much. Their mother and Uncle Floyd was divorced
and she had told the kids things about their Dad so
they didn't want to see him. It was sad, but he was
a special uncle. It was kind of like we had another
grandpa. He always gave us money so we could
stop at the store on the way home.

That country store was fun. An older couple ran the
store and it was always nice to stop and visit with
them. Of course, I didn't mind having a pop and
candy or ice cream either.

Visits to the country store; made possible by my
Great Uncle Floyd. Thanks, Uncle Floyd. Thanks
for more than money for visits to the country store.
Thanks for loving us and letting us know we were
special to you.

I know my Uncle Floyd loved me. God loves me
even more. He loves you, too.

I John 4:10 In this is love, not the we loved God,
but that He loved us and sent His Son to be
the propitiation for our sins.

My Daddy's Laughter

I loved my Dad. I thought he was the greatest. I wish
his grandkids could have known him. He died much
too soon; much too young.

I know if anyone would have tried to hurt me; they'd
better watch out for my Dad. He had to work away
from home a lot when I was growing up. He didn't
get to go to a lot of school functions. Probably my
graduation was about all.

He loved his sister, my Aunt Marie. There was
certainly a bond between those two. She used to take
up for him. I know she fought some battles for him.

Even now, after all these years; sometimes I still get
sad thinking about my Dad being gone. Times when
I wish he was around. I miss my Dad's laugh. Does
that sound strange? When he really got tickled about
something he had a strange laugh. I can't even
remember quite what it was like now. Just that I loved
to hear it. I still miss you, Daddy.

A lot of the best times I've had with my family have
been the times when we laughed together.

I wonder what God's laughter sounds like. Do you
think He and Jesus just laugh together? He must
like to laugh. He gave us that ability.

Ps 15:13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face.

Let's laugh together more. Maybe God will be
smiling with us.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Pretending

When my kids were younger they used to ask me about when I was a kid.
What did I do. Also, they always wanted to know about my family. So I
have decided to become a blogger so they will find out more about my
life and family. Maybe I will even tell some stories about them when they
were children.

When I was about 10 years old I had two friends, Trudy and Pam. They
lived on my street. A movie that was popular and that we all loved was
"The Parent Trap". When we got together we used to act out this movie.
I thought Hayley Mills was the greatest. It was great fun to pretend to be
someone else. I could act mean or silly and since I was only acting that was
fine.
It's funny the kind of dreams and pretend games we have when we are
children, but nothing we dream about can compare with the plans that
God has for us. When we're older we can see how God's hand has been
with us and guided us.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than
all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

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