In less than 1 hour a new year will begin. When we are young we seem to think time stands still. It doesn't. We think we will never get older. We will. We think (or hope) life will always bring joy. It won't. I'm not being a defeatist. On the contrary, I am grateful this is how life goes.
It has been a hard year emotionally. March 24, 2013 marked the 1 year anniversary of my husband's leaving this world and entering his eternal home. I am sure to him it seems but a moment since he was welcomed there. I miss him more tonight than ever before, but I am happy he is rejoicing in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There have been disappointments, illnesses and/or deaths of friends, and financial challenges through this year of 2013. Through it all I have had and still have the assurance that God is in control. As I said in a previous post, He is enough.
I have been blessed in 2013 in more ways than I could ever begin to list. No huge miraculous occurrences in my life that I am aware of. Not saying there weren't any, just saying I wasn't aware of any. I know God intervenes many times when we never realize it. There have been some miraculous events in the lives of friends. An automobile accident that destroyed a car and the occupants were unharmed. There has been healing. There has been strengthening & remissions. For all of these I thank and praise Him.
The next few paragraphs will be filled with I's. Not as a means of boasting, but as a testimony to the grace of God.
I have a warm place to lay my head. I have food for my table. I have the love of children and grandchildren. I have friendship. I have the most loving church family anyone could ever ask for. I have cats who want my attention. I have a dog who loves me unconditionally. Not bad so far, right?
I can hold the Word of God in my hands! I have Christian music to listen to, Christian movies to watch, and Christian books to read. I have the freedom to go to church and worship without fear of imprisonment. Thus far I have the right to share the gospel with anyone willing to listen. I have lived on this earth, in this free country, for 64 years. I have been a born-again, child of the One True God for almost 49 of those years. I awake each morning and go to sleep each night with the knowledge that my heavenly Father will never leave me nor forsake me.
I look forward to what God has planned for me in this new year. I am eagerly awaiting the adoption of my soon-to-be sixth grandchild, third grandson. It's been 11 years since there was a 2 year old in the family. I am excited. I am sure their will be ballgames to attend for my granddaughter, birthdays to celebrate with family, graduation for one of my grandsons, activities and ways to serve at church.
So - you are almost here, 2014. I'm ready.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
This Place Called Home
If you had asked me, back when I was 11 years old, what I thought of this town, I would have told you it was the most boring place on earth. My maternal grandmother lived here but my family lived 65 miles away. We visited here about every other weekend. Unless my cousins happened to be over at the same time, I was bored stiff. Not that I didn't love my grandmother or enjoy seeing her, because I did. But at 11 listening to adults talk was not my idea of a good time. Much to my horror my parents announced to my brother and me that we would be moving here over Christmas break. I was painfully shy. It did take about 2 years before I had really close friends and this truly became my home but from that point on I could not imagine living anywhere else.
This town has a rich history and is the second oldest in North Carolina. It stands on the banks of two rivers, the Neuse and the Trent. It was founded by Baron Christopher de Graffenried, a Swiss who had immigrated to England. In 1710 he brought a group of Palatines (Germans) and Swiss here and called it New Berne. However, others had been here as far back as 1705 and there were, of course, Tuscarora Indians here long before that. New Bern (now pronounced with the accent on New and the final 'e' a thing of the past) survived the Tuscarora Indian Wars between 1711 and 1715, but not without tragic losses of both settlers and Tuscaroras. The old St. Luke's Hospital is located on a parcel which was not within the early town limits. The parking lot behind the building was the site of a homestead in which the occupants were massacred.
New Bern was the colonial capital of North Carolina and has a beautiful restored palace named after the British governor, Lord Tryon. If you are a fan of the TV series, Sleepy Hollow, you have seen the palace and one of the historical homes near it in several episodes. On 8/25/1774 the North Carolina Assembly met in New Bern without consent of the governor, Josiah Martin, and elected delegates to the Continental Congress.
The town was captured by Union soldiers led by General Ambrose Burnside during the Civil War. The New Bern Academy is the oldest public school building in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the United States. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War. It now houses a museum. When I was in 7th grade I attended what was then called Central Elementary School. It consisted of 3 buildings. The Academy Building housed the 6th grade. The Bell Building housed the 7th grade. The 8th grade was housed in a newer building. The more recent building has been demolished and a beautiful home stands in its place. I remember going into the Academy Building as a 7th grader and being fascinated by the stairs. They were wooden and worn in the center. I was in awe of how many feet had been up & down those stairs to form those dips. Of course, you didn't attend Central School and not know it's history. For safety those steps have been replaced.
New Bern is also the birthplace of Pepsi Cola. Downtown on the corner of Middle and Pollock Streets is the former home of Bradham's Pharmacy. You can still visit & find about every kind of Pepsi souvenir you would ever want. Did I tell you we have some pretty neat bridges, too?
Now that I am retired, my dog and I go walking most every day along New Bern's waterfront and down it's historic streets. Union Point Park is my favorite place in New Bern.
There are many beautiful old homes and churches here. Some of these I share here in pictures.
This town has a rich history and is the second oldest in North Carolina. It stands on the banks of two rivers, the Neuse and the Trent. It was founded by Baron Christopher de Graffenried, a Swiss who had immigrated to England. In 1710 he brought a group of Palatines (Germans) and Swiss here and called it New Berne. However, others had been here as far back as 1705 and there were, of course, Tuscarora Indians here long before that. New Bern (now pronounced with the accent on New and the final 'e' a thing of the past) survived the Tuscarora Indian Wars between 1711 and 1715, but not without tragic losses of both settlers and Tuscaroras. The old St. Luke's Hospital is located on a parcel which was not within the early town limits. The parking lot behind the building was the site of a homestead in which the occupants were massacred.
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| Old St. Luke's Hospital |
New Bern was the colonial capital of North Carolina and has a beautiful restored palace named after the British governor, Lord Tryon. If you are a fan of the TV series, Sleepy Hollow, you have seen the palace and one of the historical homes near it in several episodes. On 8/25/1774 the North Carolina Assembly met in New Bern without consent of the governor, Josiah Martin, and elected delegates to the Continental Congress.
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| Tryon Palace (filming site for Sleepy Hollow) |
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| John Wright Stanly House (filming site for Sleepy Hollow) |
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| New Bern Academy Museum (side/back view) |
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| New Bern Academy Museum (front view) |
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| Bell Building |
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| Downtown New Bern/Lady in Period Dress |
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| Bradham's Pharmacy |
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| Double Bridges (Photo of bridge silhouette with draw bridge in foreground) |
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| Union Point Park |
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| Gazebo at Union Point Park |
There are many beautiful old homes and churches here. Some of these I share here in pictures.
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| Tour By Horse & Carriage |
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| Temple B'nai Sholem |
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| Centenary United Methodist Church |
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First Presbyterian ChurchI am so blessed to call this place home! Come see us sometime. |
Friday, November 15, 2013
Adopting Harrison
My son & daughter-in-law are in the process of adopting a little boy from China. We are so very excited! His name will be Harrison. A big name for such a little boy.
Let me tell you a little about him. Of course, there is a lot about him no one knows. He was abandoned in a train station at the age of approximately 2 weeks. So many of us ask ourselves how a mother could just abandon her child not knowing who might take him. I believe he was and is very much loved by his birth mother. He was born with a condition called ectrodactyly. He has malformations of his hands & feet. I feel his mother was not prepared to care for him, most likely financially. She placed him in a public area where she knew he would be seen and where many law enforcement officers would be present. He was taken to the Child Welfare Center, in other words an orphanage. There he waits for his new parents to come for him. He has just turned 2 years old.
My son is a firefighter with our local fire and rescue department. He also works a second job on his days away from the fire department to help meet their needs. My daughter-in-law has completed law school and has recently started working with another attorney in our small town. Her field of choice is family law. Contrary to what most would believe, her salary is not a substantial one. Like most graduates today, she is paying off huge student loans. They have worked very hard to save for this adoption and have been able to basically fund it themselves. Now as the paperwork is almost completed and the time nears, we hope early 2014, to bring Harrison home, they are facing a deficit of funds. If any of you are familiar with international adoptions, you know how expensive they are. Not included in what they were required to pay is airfare for 2 to China and for 3 from China, as well as the expense of remaining in that country for 3 weeks. This amount is what they are now working on.
Some may ask why adopt internationally and not locally. That is something I believe God puts in the hearts of those who adopt. Just as God has a particular child intended for birth parents, He also has a particular child for adoptive parents. Thus far, God has shown us all that Harrison is a part of our family.
I can tell you that our family is not use to asking for help. My husband was a proud man, a generous one to those in need, but one who did not want or expect things given to him. My son is very much his father's son. However, pride aside for the sake of a child, we are asking for help in raising travel/temporary resident funds. I am attaching a secure sight where anyone who can and would like to can view pictures of Harrison and if you are able and feel led to do so, donate to this fund. Please share the link with your friends to help us reach as many people as possible. Your generosity will be so appreciated and you will be blessed for your sacrifice. http://www.gofundme.com/59qyfc
This is quite a turn from my normal blog posts, but this is what God has given me today to share. My husband went home to be with the Lord on 3/24/2012. He loved children & would have loved to have Harrison ride around with him in his old truck. But I know he is looking down at that little boy and telling everyone in heaven, "That's my grandson!"
Let me tell you a little about him. Of course, there is a lot about him no one knows. He was abandoned in a train station at the age of approximately 2 weeks. So many of us ask ourselves how a mother could just abandon her child not knowing who might take him. I believe he was and is very much loved by his birth mother. He was born with a condition called ectrodactyly. He has malformations of his hands & feet. I feel his mother was not prepared to care for him, most likely financially. She placed him in a public area where she knew he would be seen and where many law enforcement officers would be present. He was taken to the Child Welfare Center, in other words an orphanage. There he waits for his new parents to come for him. He has just turned 2 years old.
My son is a firefighter with our local fire and rescue department. He also works a second job on his days away from the fire department to help meet their needs. My daughter-in-law has completed law school and has recently started working with another attorney in our small town. Her field of choice is family law. Contrary to what most would believe, her salary is not a substantial one. Like most graduates today, she is paying off huge student loans. They have worked very hard to save for this adoption and have been able to basically fund it themselves. Now as the paperwork is almost completed and the time nears, we hope early 2014, to bring Harrison home, they are facing a deficit of funds. If any of you are familiar with international adoptions, you know how expensive they are. Not included in what they were required to pay is airfare for 2 to China and for 3 from China, as well as the expense of remaining in that country for 3 weeks. This amount is what they are now working on.
Some may ask why adopt internationally and not locally. That is something I believe God puts in the hearts of those who adopt. Just as God has a particular child intended for birth parents, He also has a particular child for adoptive parents. Thus far, God has shown us all that Harrison is a part of our family.
I can tell you that our family is not use to asking for help. My husband was a proud man, a generous one to those in need, but one who did not want or expect things given to him. My son is very much his father's son. However, pride aside for the sake of a child, we are asking for help in raising travel/temporary resident funds. I am attaching a secure sight where anyone who can and would like to can view pictures of Harrison and if you are able and feel led to do so, donate to this fund. Please share the link with your friends to help us reach as many people as possible. Your generosity will be so appreciated and you will be blessed for your sacrifice. http://www.gofundme.com/59qyfc
This is quite a turn from my normal blog posts, but this is what God has given me today to share. My husband went home to be with the Lord on 3/24/2012. He loved children & would have loved to have Harrison ride around with him in his old truck. But I know he is looking down at that little boy and telling everyone in heaven, "That's my grandson!"
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Excuses
Several things pinging around my head I want to write about. Deciding which will be first is the great decision. Here goes. Warning! This may be offensive to some.
Does your church have revival services? I know not all churches do, but especially in the south usually a couple of times a year we have at least 4-5 consecutive services with a guest speaker. It is a time for us to refocus, rededicate ourselves to God and to living for Him. We are not a huge church. We have a seating capacity of 665 people, about 200 more than we average on Sundays. So we have room to grow. Tonight we had our last of 4 services for this series. The messages were great. Spirit filled and definitely what we needed to hear.
When I was a teenager (long, long time ago) revivals were popular. The host church had almost all its members present and area churches attended on the nights they weren't having services. At 64 years old, I have seen revival attendance dwindle to less and less. There are many legitimate reasons people miss a service or two. Sickness, work schedule. some who can't get out at night because of age, etc. However, there are many who can attend, but choose not to. For weeks leading up to this series of meetings, we learned of the great revivals in the United States, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland in the past centuries. Unfortunately, there has not been a repeat of those services for 200 years.
I looked around the church each night, thankful for those who were there and yet wondering where the others were. Again, many had legitimate reasons they could not attend, but what of all the others? I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I was saddened. I thought of all the excuses people use, many I have also used at one time or another myself. So I am not guilt free in this. "I worked all day and I was really tired." "It was so cold I didn't want to get out." (And it was cold the past 2 nights). Can you imagine telling your employer that it was just too cold to go to work? Or that you were out late at a party and didn't feel like coming to work? Feel pretty certain no one would try that. I have a friend that says why not just say "peanut butter, because one excuse is as good as another". He doesn't really mean to use that; he's just making his point. Pretty good one. How many sit on bleachers, wrapped in blankets to watch a football game? How many go out to dinner with friends after a long hard day at work? Do you see where I am coming from? I am not talking to the unsaved. I am talking to people who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior. Do we have the right to ask why our children don't want to go to church, when we don't make an effort to be there ourselves? Please do not think that I believe every wayward child is the fault of the parent. I know better than that. I also know we should take every opportunity to be the example God expects. I think we have a real priority problem. That means there is a heart problem. Not a physical one, but a spiritual one.
I believe the American church as a whole has this priority problem. Churches in hostile nations seem to thrive in the face of persecution. They would love to have the freedom to meet publicly any time they could. We have the freedom but do not exercise it. So until you are willing to truly return to God, back to where it all began, what is your excuse?
Does your church have revival services? I know not all churches do, but especially in the south usually a couple of times a year we have at least 4-5 consecutive services with a guest speaker. It is a time for us to refocus, rededicate ourselves to God and to living for Him. We are not a huge church. We have a seating capacity of 665 people, about 200 more than we average on Sundays. So we have room to grow. Tonight we had our last of 4 services for this series. The messages were great. Spirit filled and definitely what we needed to hear.
When I was a teenager (long, long time ago) revivals were popular. The host church had almost all its members present and area churches attended on the nights they weren't having services. At 64 years old, I have seen revival attendance dwindle to less and less. There are many legitimate reasons people miss a service or two. Sickness, work schedule. some who can't get out at night because of age, etc. However, there are many who can attend, but choose not to. For weeks leading up to this series of meetings, we learned of the great revivals in the United States, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland in the past centuries. Unfortunately, there has not been a repeat of those services for 200 years.
I looked around the church each night, thankful for those who were there and yet wondering where the others were. Again, many had legitimate reasons they could not attend, but what of all the others? I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I was saddened. I thought of all the excuses people use, many I have also used at one time or another myself. So I am not guilt free in this. "I worked all day and I was really tired." "It was so cold I didn't want to get out." (And it was cold the past 2 nights). Can you imagine telling your employer that it was just too cold to go to work? Or that you were out late at a party and didn't feel like coming to work? Feel pretty certain no one would try that. I have a friend that says why not just say "peanut butter, because one excuse is as good as another". He doesn't really mean to use that; he's just making his point. Pretty good one. How many sit on bleachers, wrapped in blankets to watch a football game? How many go out to dinner with friends after a long hard day at work? Do you see where I am coming from? I am not talking to the unsaved. I am talking to people who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior. Do we have the right to ask why our children don't want to go to church, when we don't make an effort to be there ourselves? Please do not think that I believe every wayward child is the fault of the parent. I know better than that. I also know we should take every opportunity to be the example God expects. I think we have a real priority problem. That means there is a heart problem. Not a physical one, but a spiritual one.
I believe the American church as a whole has this priority problem. Churches in hostile nations seem to thrive in the face of persecution. They would love to have the freedom to meet publicly any time they could. We have the freedom but do not exercise it. So until you are willing to truly return to God, back to where it all began, what is your excuse?
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Is God Enough?
I know this is a question many people ask themselves whether they are willing to admit it or not. To put all your trust into someone you can't see is just something the human mind does not want to wrap itself around. I think this is a question that prevents some from accepting Christ as Savior and holds Christians back from fulfilling God's purpose for their lives. One can almost understand this doubt in an unbeliever. For the believer, it is a matter of total surrender.
To address this from the unbeliever's point of view, this would be prefaced by the question, "What does God expect from me?". Sadly this is where so many choose to say no to Christ. Legalism has played such a huge part in Christianity past (and in many cases, Christianity present) that they do not hear anything but "Thou shalt not". It is a huge hurdle for some to get over. Some never do. I am certainly not saying that things won't change, because in accepting Christ you are changed! God gives you something better!
To address this from the believer's point of view, it is too often prefaced by the question, "What do I expect from God?" This is usually followed by a list of demands we think God should grant. So many have been misled by the health and wealth preachers of today, they think God would never allow anything painful into their lives. When they find this is not the case, they question if God is enough. It only takes reading the Scripture to know God never promised there would be no adversity in our lives. So I will speak from my experience with God.
Is God enough when we are in physical pain? Is God enough when life's disappointments overwhelm us? Is God enough when we are in financial ruin? Is God enough when we are spiritually worn from the battles we fight against the darkness? Is God enough when death calls? Is God enough? I have faced each of those questions in my life as a Christian and I can say in every instance, He has been enough. God is enough!
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matthew 22:37 KJV
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10 KJV
To address this from the unbeliever's point of view, this would be prefaced by the question, "What does God expect from me?". Sadly this is where so many choose to say no to Christ. Legalism has played such a huge part in Christianity past (and in many cases, Christianity present) that they do not hear anything but "Thou shalt not". It is a huge hurdle for some to get over. Some never do. I am certainly not saying that things won't change, because in accepting Christ you are changed! God gives you something better!
To address this from the believer's point of view, it is too often prefaced by the question, "What do I expect from God?" This is usually followed by a list of demands we think God should grant. So many have been misled by the health and wealth preachers of today, they think God would never allow anything painful into their lives. When they find this is not the case, they question if God is enough. It only takes reading the Scripture to know God never promised there would be no adversity in our lives. So I will speak from my experience with God.
Is God enough when we are in physical pain? Is God enough when life's disappointments overwhelm us? Is God enough when we are in financial ruin? Is God enough when we are spiritually worn from the battles we fight against the darkness? Is God enough when death calls? Is God enough? I have faced each of those questions in my life as a Christian and I can say in every instance, He has been enough. God is enough!
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matthew 22:37 KJV
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Friday, September 27, 2013
How To Reinvent Yourself
On my last visit to my doctor, he was full of praise for my weight loss. I'm still struggling with those last few pounds. But I'll make it.
We discussed how I am spending my days. I must say, I am not happy with how I am spending my days. I am content most of the time to be home with my dog & cats. Not that it's a bad thing, but not what I wanted my retirement to be. Of course, the price of gasoline & a limited income prevents me from traveling as much as I did at first. That's a little let down. I have thought and prayed about what it is God has planned for me to be doing. I have some painting I have to do inside my house & I am going to start on that. I can't bring myself to volunteer at the nursing home or hospital. I guess watching my husband's quick health decline before he went home to be with the Lord, put those in the No category. I have considered volunteering at the school affiliated with the church I attend. That still may be an option. My doctor told me I have to "reinvent myself". He did say that I am no longer the efficient data gatherer in the medical office where I worked for so long. He did not say it, but I know he was also thinking "You are no longer Al's wife.". So I guess my quest begins. I want to take courses in Hebrew and Greek, but have not found any college who offers either of these without enrolling in an entire curriculum. I'm not giving up on those. Have also considered a course in Public Speaking. Do you think I'm a little confused? Well, you would be right. It's not easy to find your place after 43 1/2 years of marriage to the same man, and 24 years at the same job. I don't want to go back to work unless it becomes a necessity. For some, they never want to give up working, but for me I was just tired after 33 + years in the work force. So I have to trust God to send me in the right direction or place a burden on my heart for His purpose.
If there is anyone else out there who's had to reinvent themselves and have been successful, please share your strategy.
We discussed how I am spending my days. I must say, I am not happy with how I am spending my days. I am content most of the time to be home with my dog & cats. Not that it's a bad thing, but not what I wanted my retirement to be. Of course, the price of gasoline & a limited income prevents me from traveling as much as I did at first. That's a little let down. I have thought and prayed about what it is God has planned for me to be doing. I have some painting I have to do inside my house & I am going to start on that. I can't bring myself to volunteer at the nursing home or hospital. I guess watching my husband's quick health decline before he went home to be with the Lord, put those in the No category. I have considered volunteering at the school affiliated with the church I attend. That still may be an option. My doctor told me I have to "reinvent myself". He did say that I am no longer the efficient data gatherer in the medical office where I worked for so long. He did not say it, but I know he was also thinking "You are no longer Al's wife.". So I guess my quest begins. I want to take courses in Hebrew and Greek, but have not found any college who offers either of these without enrolling in an entire curriculum. I'm not giving up on those. Have also considered a course in Public Speaking. Do you think I'm a little confused? Well, you would be right. It's not easy to find your place after 43 1/2 years of marriage to the same man, and 24 years at the same job. I don't want to go back to work unless it becomes a necessity. For some, they never want to give up working, but for me I was just tired after 33 + years in the work force. So I have to trust God to send me in the right direction or place a burden on my heart for His purpose.
If there is anyone else out there who's had to reinvent themselves and have been successful, please share your strategy.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Losing Excess Baggage
Decided it was about time to do a little blogging. So here I am. Now what???
Let me see. What accomplishments have I made lately? Well, none without the help of my Lord! I would say my weight loss is one of my biggest hurdles. Still have a little way to go, but so far so good although it has been slow going. I will post a before picture here. This was taken in April, 2011 at 163 pounds.
Vegetable, vegetables, vegetables! Eat those power foods!! The next picture was taken around mid-late March, 2013 at a weight of approximately 139 lbs.
Let me see. What accomplishments have I made lately? Well, none without the help of my Lord! I would say my weight loss is one of my biggest hurdles. Still have a little way to go, but so far so good although it has been slow going. I will post a before picture here. This was taken in April, 2011 at 163 pounds.
During my husband's illness I lost 5 pounds. After his death, I knew I needed some accountability so I returned to Weight Watchers in September, 2012 at a weight of 158.8 pounds. It had worked for me in the past and knew it would work again if I stayed with it. It has been an up & down battle at times. My next picture was taken on October 21, 2012 at about 151 pounds.
I have learned some new recipes. I have also learned to make a great fresh fruit mix that gets better each day in the fridge. I have never been a big fruit eater, but I absolutely love it. I am also trying to use my elliptical glider at least 3-4 times a week, hopefully working up to daily. The glider is low impact on the knees when used walking. Using it in the ski position does take more effort and toll on these old hips. But I know this will be worth it. As I only have a little bit left to reach the goal my doctor set for me, I will neither take nor post another picture until I have met my goal. Hopefully that will be soon.
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