Plumbers from Ohio!!!??? :)

Another beautiful day in Honduras! It is in the 70's today but very windy.....the winds always pick up at night here to around 30 MPH, would be my guess...but they have continued through the AM here. Santa Anna is located in the mountains of Honduras and the weather is kind of ideal.....warm through the days...but cooler at night...enough to cuddle under the blankets and get a good nights sleep. Without AC and heat...it is ideal. We got a little rain again after we went to bed last night so that was a good thing also. This AM Anita and I got up and worked on the pipes around the apt. Both commodes were leaking and we got one fixed and then the kitchen sink has a small leak where the water lines attach to the faucet...so we are still working on that one and watching it through the day. Probably just needs some plumbers tape put on at the connection...but it is a bit hard to find this stuff here! We also did laundry again this AM and it did not take long to dry in this wind!!! A couple that used to work here is moving today. He got another job at a town south of here and Dorian is helping them move today. Ashley another young lady that works here from Ohio came back yesterday from the states, so that will help fill the void left from the other couple. As I have said before....never a dull moment! We also have a lady from Fla here who is getting a counselors degree and she flew in for the w/e to do some testing on many of the kids.....just alot of issues to deal with...she has been here before....so is familiar with alot of them. I ate again at the orphanage at noon...another interesting dish....but it was good! :) I then came back to the apt and strung some green beans from the market yesterday and cut up some fruit. Then I sat in the sun and read. :) Later this afternoon we cleaned a bit in the apt and then tried to "dress up"the back patio a bit. All of you who really know Anita and I, know we love our green plants and back patio space! It looks like a jungle in the summer...now the inside of the house looks like a jungle. So we are seeing what we can do here. I have also continued to read some today and out of an entire book again on the fruits of the spirit...one sentence really spoke to me. "There is NO way to happiness...Happiness IS the way!" Simple small sentence...but it just really jumped out at me. How many times do we look in all the wrong places to fill those voids in our lives and look for happiness. Be it through drugs, alchohol, new cars and homes, shopping, sex....whatever....then we discover a few days later or maybe even a few hours later....that did not bring me much happiness. Truth is Happiness is found only in us and through God. Many of us take longer than others to discover that. With tough economic times right now many of us may not feel there is going to be much happiness to go around for awhile...we worry and fret about the future. I just pray that we can trust God in the midst of the tough times ahead and not allow our worries and the poor economy to steal our happiness and joy. Have a blessed Sunday!

Visitation was also today!

If you want to read what the rest of the crew here was doing while we were at the market shopping for food...read territindalls blog that is also on my blog site. Just click on it. The kids went to visit their mothers today....those that would come....always an adventure around here! :) But Terri was still smiling this afternoon.....so her joy was not stolen either. :)

Pictures of the market

If you really want to see a picture of the market and the five brothers you will need to travel on to Anita's blogspot which is listed on this blog of mine....just click on her site! Again....find the JOY in each day and don't let others steal it from you! :)

Finding the "JOY" in Tagus!!!

We went to the large "farmers market" today in Tagus to buy 2 weeks worth of vegis and things for the orphanage. We also bought some for us here in the apt. It is next to the soccer stadium in Tagus and not the best part of town....but not the worst from what I understand. Today...we nearly hit a cow and a few dogs while in town....then there was a man sitting in the middle of a four lane highway in Tagus in the middle of two of the lanes in a wheelchair!!!!! This town is crazy! I do fine on the dirt roads of Santa Anna as rough as they are...but keep me out of Tagus! Karen asked me to leave my purse in the car and not take it into the market....but I took it anyway....I felt safer with it on me than leaving it in the car and carrying my wallet in my hand....so I put it over my shoulder and hung onto it tight....without a problem! :) So...relax mom....yes I still have my purse!! :) We bought a sack full of vegis, cantalope, watermellon, green beans, potatoes, etc for a little over 5 dollars and thought that was neat! Karen and Dorian were also in need of pots and pans so we bought them a matching set of pans for around forty dollars....they are not the greatest but not too bad either....so we were feeling pretty good about this trip to the market. Young boys with wheelbarrel type things hauled all the food and stuff out to the vehicle...there was alot for the orphange...and we tipped him and the little girl that parked us and "watched" the car while we were at the market. Interesting place for sure....but someplace I would never go by myself like Terri Tindall does! Well....we HAD some nice pictures of this market with vegis and people everywhere and meat hanging on hooks just out in the open! HAD is the key word here!!! As we were driving out of the market and had to stop for backed up traffic...we wanted to get a shot of the thousands of houses sitting on the hillside. Anita had taken the picture and had the camera back IN the car when a young teen boy ran up and grabbed her hand and fought her for the camera! She put up a fight and I was looking the other way and did not see a thing until she screamed and he ran away with our camera. He had hurt her finger that she had nearly sliced off a few years ago and she had to let go. I was ready to go after him....but knew that was a lost cause. (Picture a grey haired fat woman chasing down this skinny Honduran kid) Yeppers...not a pretty sight!!! So Anita was in tears, Karen was scared and I was in the flight mode! Then we sat back and thought....OK we had just studied the "fruits of the spirit" in our ladies small group.....surely we could find some self control and JOY in all this....so we did! :) We decided that nice young man needed the money out of that camera much more than we did....so it must be a God thing and he can have it and we will eventually get another! :) Trouble is....the video of me sliding down the slide with the kids yesterday is on that camera....so if anyone sees that video on Youtube.com.......PLEASE let me know! :) It could win America's or Honduras's funniest videos I am certain!!!!! The rest of the pics noone will want! Not that they want any of them! :) I am just thrilled that we downloaded all the pics each day here and we did not loose any of them except for those in the market! We will try to find someone here with a pic of the market.....it IS an interesting place. After all this Karen took us to a very nice quiet restraunt with lace tableclothes, cloth napkins, and a waiter that was sooo very kind. A beautiful little place. We had a good meal there and then went to a fabric store and headed back home. When we got back to the orphanage we were greeted by all 13 kids and the five brothers that were recently sent back to their mother and alchoholic father. They are now living in Tagus with Jenn Wright and they came here for a visit as they had to bring a couple ladies from Fla to the orphanage. There seem to be people in and out of here all the time. Interesting place I must say. I do not know how Karen keeps all of this together! SOOOO..... much going on here on a daily basis. So....tonight I am just going to read and relax some from another busy day. Have a blessed day and remember to look for the JOY and good in everything and not let others control your day. God is good! :) More pics to come later....but from Karen's camera! :)

" A DAY IN THE PARK!" :)

Today was a bit more leasurely day here in Honduras. We walked the children to a park nearby and spent about 2 hours with them there. Monica, one of the mentally challenged children, clung to me all morning...and I think that may say something about me.....not sure! LOL :) It was a great 2 hours with them though. Then we came home and I ate my second meal at the orphange.....a cabbage dish over rice that was really very good. I do not like cabbage....but this was spiced up enough you could not even tell it was there. Last night I did some no bake cookies for all of us and we have been nibbling on them. As I said I may be the first to gain weight here. I have been reading alot and just thinking alot while I am here also. I was reading a book the other day that quoted the scripture from Jeremiah, "For I know well the plans I have for you...plans for your welfare not for woe, plans to give you a future full of HOPE." How often I forget that God knows what is in store for me each and every day. He knows the number of hairs on my head and is always there....I need only BELIEVE that and trust that he will guide me through ANYTHING!!!! Then I thought of the Hondurans we encountered yesterday and how difficult and maybe impossible it must be for them to feel any HOPE for the future or to even believe that there is a God that loves them. This is why I admire soooo much the work that Karen and Dorian, the Tendal's, and all connected to this work here, are doing. I see the sacrifice they have made and continue to make on a daily basis. They are seeing many results from their work already.....one tiny "starfish" at a time...but the seeds are being planted and God will surely provide the growth here. Without them showing God's love through their examples and sharing the "FRUITS" that God has blessed them with.....few here would ever hear of God's love. It is soooooo apparent just here in the orphange how much love these children crave!!! Many here have never known or felt loved until here. Please keep this ministry in your prayers. This afternoon I read some more and called Connie Kaufman to see how things were going in the snow and ice. They were without electric until I called and she said our house was without until about 11PM last eve. So all is well I guess on the homefront. :) God is good! :) After Karen got off work we then went to Janet Hines house where Karen and Dorian were married. Alot of changes since last year and a very nice place. :) Karen is now fixing dinner...fahitas I think. :) I am going to post pictures of today. The little girl holding the pine needles is Monica who clings to me. This "nest" was her baby (a rock) that she carried all the way back to the orphanage....a 1/2 mile or so. :) I had to pick it up a few times. :) The rest of the pics are just some of the kids playing and Pamela with her crutches. I redressed and cleaned her heel today.....basically what the plastic surgeon did was place more padding on the heel and removed the metal that was causing so much pain. So far the healing process seems to be going well. "Tia" Sharon also went down the slide with the kids once and I think Anita will sell the video to the highest bidder to raise funds for the orphanage!! :) Hope you all are thawing out some up North. I am burned again from playing in the park! :) I am sure you all are sympathizing with me! LOL :) Have a great day! It is nearly Friday! :)

Eyes with little HOPE in them! :(

Today was a full day...but the best day I have had yet in my book! We began early at 8:30 making about 300 bologne sandwhiches! Only took us 45 minutes. Then we grabbed huge containers of water and headed into Tagus. Along the way we stopped at the fruit stand and bought several bags of oranges and then headed to the dump. Along the way, we traveled through one of the worst sections of Tagus and at one point came upon a lady, probably my age, that had been hit by a car. Police were with her. It is easy to see why so many people get hit by cars here. The driving conditions are terrible and most people walk everywhere they go! Tagus is crazy! We then got to the dump and the minute the people there saw Mark Tendal's truck they began to run because they knew they would get a small amt of food! We probably fed 200 people in just the short time we were there. Most were older men and women...but there were probably at least 30 very dirty chidren in the midst of all them also....very sad! Many of them kept coming back for more food and would store it up in their dirty little bags. We were instructed to take off all watches, etc before we even got out of the truck. One of the dump people warned us to put up the camera because kids were there that stole one last week,......so we guarded it with our lives also. Very moving experience for sure. I would do it again every day if I could though. I guess Casa and a few others is all the food that is brought there in a weeks time. Many expressed their thanks and Mark Tindal has really built up a rapport with them and they respcct him.....it is obvious. We physically touched the people very little (only our hands touched)....but as we left...we washed our hands with wet towels and all were black. I just wanted to take the kids home with us....what a life..... and one has to wonder what HOPE do they even have except for more of this? We then headed back to town...grabbed a sandwhich and went to a domestic women's shelter in Tagus. There we bought some candles that the ladies make on the site to raise funds for the shelter. Casa is ordering special candles from them for their shop here on site to sell to help raise funds for the orphange. They will all have the starfish star on them, We picked up some candles today with stars on them. Anita and I bought one and then left a donation for them also. We then went on to another shop that specializes in pewter designs and has Honduran pottery pieces. Karen and Terri Tendall also ordered star pieces there for the shop here on the orphanage. It was at this shop that we ran upon Rudy!!! He yelled for Karen loud enough that we heard him in the shop. He is the little boy that ran away shortly after Karen and Dorian got married last year and went back to street living. At first he did not seem to want us to approach him...but then he let all of us hug him and take a picture of him with Anita. :) We then gave him a little to eat also. I always felt for Rudy and clicked with him last year when I was here. A rough little boy.....but it is all he has ever known. It was soooo good to see him again. He had no shoes on though and was nearly as dirty as the ones we had seen in the dump....but seeing him was good and brought tears to this old grandma's eyes.....how I would love to just pack some of these kids up and take them home. Truth is they do not do well in a home like we are used to.....the streets is all they have ever known and stealing is the only way they know to survive! That is why Rudy is back on the streets! We then headed home and dodged cars, people and cows all the way home. So.....it has been a full day, an interesting day and a heartwrenching day. The moth picture is what we found on the door of the apt as we came home.....just another of God's beautiful creatures that I am sure he placed on this door just for me to appreciate today! Hope you all have enjoyed the winter wonder land that God gave you today also! :)

Extreme Makeover :)

It was a rainy day here with some sunshine in between. I know I have nothing to complain about after seeing the weather reports in the states. Anita and I began the day painting and cleaning walls in the apt and then tackled the shed with all the supplies in it. It was jam packed and needed some reorganization. It took about 2-3 hours but it is done and you can walk in it now with no problems. We then spent the afternoon reading and doing a few things. Karen worked until 3PM again. The picture of the police is a common sight in Tagus and everywhere around here. Armed police and guards are at each store and on every road it seems. Takes some getting used to....but then you realize it makes one feel safer. The dinner plate you see is what Anita had for lunch. Beans, rice, scrambled eggs and coleslaw! It was good she said...but not a combination we would do in the states. I went back to the apt and ate my left overs from chillis yesterday. We fixed Karen her creamed potatoes and chicken for dinner tonight......she likes her potatoes! Tonight we just read and blogged. I finished my mom's book today and will be ready to start another tomorrow if there is time. We are beginning at 8:30 fixing sandwhiches in the AM and then will go to the dump and feed the dwellers there. After that we are going to a candle and pewter shop to pick up gifts for the shop here on the property. They sale goodies and keepsakes at the shop here to raise money also. Has done well I understand. We did not see much of the kids today.....Since it was raining, they watched movies and worked on some school work and things. Hope all of you are safe in the snow and ice. Say a special prayer for Mark and Connie Kaufman..those that know them...they are feeding our five critters at home and with the snow and cold temps.....it has not been easy! It is good to know they are doing it in spite of the bad weather! Thanks guys! I used Karen's phone to call Connie and apologize! Oh me or my...what a task! I thought they would like sliding in the snow to my home! It always snows when we are down here. Last year after the wedding in March....we drove back on icy bumpy roads. It seems snow likes to hit when we are gone.....but don't think that will keep us home from here! :)

Day In Tagus

LIfe is good here. Nice day again but a little windy! Santa Anna is higher in the mountains than some towns around here and a bit cooler at night and windy. Karen did not work today so we were able to spend more time with her. We sat on the porch this AM and had some good talks with Karen about the kids, etc. It was nice to reconnect with her. We also got some reading time in and just relaxed. Then when Dorian came home from his college classes....we headed into Tagus. The town is just a small town of 1 1/2 million people!!! The drivers are crazy and I just close my eyes and pray for a safe landing everytime we drive through the town. Every store has armed guards. People are walking everywhere...on the sides of roads and in the middle of the roads. We ate at a new restraunt...Chillis...just as in the states and the food was very good. Then we went to a grocery store that was next door to it. We then headed back home, but stopped at the top of a mountain in Santa Anna that has a large cross built on it all made out of car parts! It was pretty neat! Very tall and just neat to see a piece of art made from car parts I even recognized....but by 6PM it was very chilly on top of the mountain. I had to get back in the car! I had shorts on! We then came home and Dorian worked on homework. We have not seen much of the kids today. We talked alot about them though. Pamela is doing OK after her foot surgery and is now using her crutches. She and her sister are beautiful girls.....but so many issues after being sold on the streets by their brother. They also have a younger brother here...who was also abused. The deaf and mute girl is very clingy but also very smart.....she is picking up the sign language rather quickly and I would swear she can read my lips even in English....she seems to understand alot that you would not think she could. Then there are Monica and Doris who are sisters. Monica...has been her for a few years and really slow....but she has learned to write her name and recognize letters and she is sooo proud of herself. :) Doris is her older sister who they just got not too long ago and she is just now learning to bathe and dress herself...she was totally neglected and knew very little. She is very slow, but is proud of the fact that she can now dress herself and go to the bathroom by herself. She is still squimish about human touch because she has basically not had any. Then there is Bryan who is quit the prankster and always goofing off and he has his own survival issues. Just alot of stuff for such young children! The stories can really pull at your heartstrings. All are very loving kids and for the most part crave attention...but there are some who fear any human contact. One sometimes just does not know what the best thing is for each individual child with all the issues they have. But Karen does such a great job with the discipline and working with the kids. It is obvious to see how much they love her. So....that is about it for today. Tomorrrow Karen has to work part of the day again and I am going to do some painting in the apartment while she works. Wed we are going to the garbage dump to feed the families that live there and then go to the market to get fruit and things. I think we are going to build a house next Monday......So....we are keeping busy for the most part. Have a great day! I am posting a picture of the cross made from cars, Pamela and Daniella , and a picture of Karen and Anita taken this AM off the back porch of the apt.

Universal Language

I have seen at church this AM that even though I do not understand a word of the songs or the sermon or what anyone says to me.....one thing is always understood down here. "Hola" said with a hug and a smile seems to be the "universal language" and understood by all of us regardless of our nationality. :) It has been another full day here. We started with a church service with many coming from all around the neighborhood. I did not understand a word of the sermon nor the songs....but I managed to feel God's presence just the same. We then played with the kids after worship until lunch was ready. The ladies fixed us chicken, rice, and potatoe salad that was much like ours only hot. There is rice of course with every meal.....but it is good.....not soggy like mine. I then sat out in the sun in my shorts and soaked up some rays as I journaled and read a book mom gave me months ago and I finally have time to read it. :) I really feel for all of my friends back in WV and Ohio who I understand are getting snow and cold temps today. :( I feel your pain as I sit here by a palm tree reading with a nice breeze blowing by. With a little imagination I would think I was next to the ocean....but I do not see any water! Very dry season here right now. After Karen was done with her shift with the kids, Anita, Karen and I went to a fair in a small town nearby.....it was packed. I took some pictures. One of them with this post is just me going through customs! Always exciting for me! One is of Anita sitting in a hammock that she nearly fell out of. Others of of the palm tree I sat beside and got a bit burnt and some of the Fair at the town nearby that we went to. Horses, cars, and people everywhere! I tried a food there that was cabbage, ketchup and mustard over some kind of chips.....it was OK. Not sure what it was called. I will try anything once though. Karen is off tomorrow, so we are going into Tagus to do some shopping and get some groceries in. Tonight we all played a game of Mexican dominoes....it was fun but a long game....I even won! :) I am just enjoying finally getting some time to relax and get away from the cold temps at this point. Hope all of you are well and be careful in the snow. Connie, I am sure with the snow...this is going to be tougher with the animal farm....I am sorry! Lisa...take care of the nice little doggie you have! :)

Hola from Honduras

The eagle has arrived in Honduras! The flights were good and we arrived to a temp of around 80 degrees! I love it! I have not met any horses hindends in the road yet but they are grazing along the roads. The kids just arrived back at the orphnage after taking in a movie this afternoon. One vomitted in the van....so that was the first order of things....cleaning and disinfecting the van. A crew met us at the airport. Jenn, Sam, Dave...all the kids at their house and then Dorian, Karen and Pamela. Pamela, a beautiful 11 year old, had just been released from the hospital after having surgery on her foot. She is having some pain of course but seems to be doing OK. Her two day hospital bill and surgery came to about 1100 dollars and had to be paid today. Cheaper than a plastic surgeon in the states though. We had some adult crutches cut off and adjusted for her, but right now she refuses to use them.....I think she likes the idea of Dorian carrying her more! :) Maybe after a good nights sleep, she will feel diffently tomorrow. Otherwise this healing process could be a long one! Our first meal in Honduras was a stop at Burger King on the way home.....Pamela was hungry.....apparently the hopsital food here is no better than at home. Anita and I are presently sitting out on the back porch and both blogging. We have our ice tea made and life is good. Karen is giving all the girls showers and getting the kids ready to settle down for the eve. We have already been to one pottery store but have bought nothing yet. Gotta stretch all this for two weeks this time. Karen has already shown me a few paint jobs that need done. :) We are staying in their apartment and it is nice. It is attached to the orphange but somehwhat separate. We have our separate beds and room with a private bath.....so I am not roughing it too much. We are unpacked and the clothes are a bit wrinkled but all the suitcases made it with all still in them. :) Anita did something that only a mother would do and stopped and got Karen frozen bread in Marietta before we left. We placed it in an freezer bag and she put it in Lisa's freezer in Columbus last night. At 4Am she packed it and flew it to Honduras for Karen! :) You cannot find it down here and Karen loves her homemade bread.....apparently you cannot even get yeast and stuff like you do in the states. It made it here and was soft when unpacked...but is now rising and Karen will have bread tonight when all the kids are tucked in. All the candy and books, etc are unpacked and the suitcases will be alot lighter going back home. Mine weighed in at Columbus airport at exactly 50 pounds and as most of you know that is the limit! :) I was happy! Anita and I brought our tea bags and alread have made the iced tea.....you cannot find good tea here either....it is all tangy with alot of lemon flavor!!!! Dorian is working on his sermon for the AM.....and I will not understand a word of it! I just smile at him!!! We have met most of the newer kids thus far and the deaf girl, Rosita, has a way of telling you what she wants....I just did no understand it! She was swinging her arms like she is holding a baby and Anita told me she was calling me a baby! I fianlly figured out...only when she walked to the swing....she wanted me to swing her! This is going to be a long two weeks! :) Well......that is about it for today. Hope you all have a blessed day and I will be thinking of you northern friends of mine as I bask in the sun down here. :) Oh, by the way, Beth, Anita and I flew on the plane from Houston with another mission team from Ky. This one lady reminded us sooooo much of you with her Sooouuuthhherrrnn draw and all. :) She was just about as sweet as you also.....we just had to tell you that you were in our thoughts as we flew from Houston! :) It is now 6PM and starting to get a little dark.....they are an hour behind us in time. I will end now and add more as things happen here. Take care!

Betty Yerke Prayer :)

I have spent most of the evening tonight packing for the trip to Honduras. It is hard for me to pack all my clothes, things we are taking for the orphans and Karen and Dorian and keep all this under 50 pounds. :) But I think I have accomplished it. We are taking off for Columbus tomorrow eve and will spend tomorrow night with Lisa and then up early for a 6AM flight Saturday Morning. Every time I fly I cannot help but think of an older dear friend who passed away recently. She always had us pray the "Betty Yerke prayer" before she flew and that prayer was that God would take the plane up when it was to go up and down when it was suppose to go down. We are looking forward to hugging the necks of Karen and Dorian and I am sure Dorian is looking forward to teasing me about my fluent spanish! (Hey....this nurse took Latin in HS!!! ) We hope to help paint, build a house, work with the kids and maybe even get some R&R in while we are there. I am taking some books and hope to continue reading some and do some journaling. I am looking forward to getting away from the snow and ice for a time and seeing more of Honduras and its people. If the internet remains up in Honduras, than hopefully I will be able to keep you all posted on what is happening there. Hope you all have an awesome w/e and God continues to bless you!

My Buddies :)

Tonight our small group from church met again for the first time in a month due to the holidays and all. I have missed this group of ladies in my life this past month. Our lives are sometimes very different and our abilites and ideas are also.....but we come together for this short time each Monday and it seems our hearts are one! I love this group. Some of these ladies I knew very little about until a few short months ago.....but they have quickly grown very close to my heart. Anita and I facilitate this group and it has truly been a blessing to us. We have enjoyed praying with, talking with, working with, eating with, and yes, even crying with these ladies. They are another treasure in my life and I thank God they have chosen to share a part of their lives with this imperfect, sometimes silly lady! :) God Bless you all!

HISTORIC WEEK

I was sitting here this afternoon watching some of the pre-Obama inaguration coverage. I know everyone does not agree with his beliefs...but I am one of those who is excited about the change I am seeing. I watched his interview with Rick Warren and was impressed with his anwers regarding his Christian beliefs. I, for one am praying for this man and all the leaders of this great nation. There is sooo much negative stuff going on right now in this nation with the greed, poor economy, etc. Then God shows us a miracle on the Hudson and some HOPE is restored within us as we witness the HOPE and inspiration that one man (a pilot) can show all of us. I feel the same can continue to happen in this troubled world. God took one man, the apostle Paul....... a man whose beliefs were to destroy Christians, and he used him in a mighty way. We are a resilient nation and people and it is my prayer that we continue to fight and pray. We as Christians have such power behind us and I feel we do not believe in that power enough. God is mighty and he can work through anyone, even us! :) So I am asking each of you to get on your knees, believe in the mightiness of our God and let's pray for his guidance and the hearts of ourselves and our leaders! Miracles do happen and I am expecting one in the years to come. Hope you are also! :)

Thankful for a mighty God

Tonight as I watched the news, I got "shivers" down my spine and tears in my eyes as I witnessed the stories of those that were on the plane that crashed into the Hudson River. I thank God tonight for that experienced pilot, his quick thinking and that all the passengers on the plane made it off safely. I cannot even imagine being on that plane and feeling the terror they must have experienced for just a few short minutes, nor the chill they felt as they exited the plane in the cold, freezing waters. But I thank God they felt the chill and have made it to safety. My God is a mighty God! :)

A treasured friend :)

Her name is Nina Beth Jinkerson......we call her Beth. I met her in seventh grade when her father, M.H. Tucker came to preach at Grand Central Church in Vienna. We were close friends through Jr. High and High School until she left to attend Freed Hardman College while we were still seniors at PHS. I lost touch with her for many years. We each got married and had 2 children. Although she was out of sight, she was never far from my heart. Her faith in God was always an inspiration to me then and through the years. When adversities struck and I waivered...I often thought of Beth and her sustaining faith. I had promised myself long before I married that I would name my first daughter after Beth....thus my daughter's name Amanda Beth! :) Years after we parted ways, and after my daughter was born, I called Beth up and probably really shocked her that day! We visited with her and her family many years ago when the children were younger and have kept in touch over the years through letters, phone calls and email. This past fall, Anita and I decided to take a trip south and I called Beth and wanted to see her also since it had been years. We arranged to spend a few days with her in Knoxville before heading on into the Smokies. We had a great time reuniting and Anita understood after meeting her why Beth always held a special place in my heart. She is now disabled and relies on a motorized chair to get her many places, but her kind heart, gentle spirit, and unrelenting faith has never changed. Regardless of her physical abilites, her intellect is sharp and her positive outlook on life is fantastic. She remains a real inspiration to me and soooooo many others. So....on this cold night as I sit by the fire with two dogs at my feet, I think again of this dear friend of mine and thank God that he blessed my life with her so many years ago. I have told her numerous times, but I doubt that she realizes just what a real inspiration she has been to this ladies life. So thankyou God and thankyou Beth! You are loved! :)

More pics of my family

Just a few more pictures of my clan. The first is Anita and her three kids and Dorian, her son in law. The next one is myself and my first grandchild, Kaitlyn. :) She is a beautiful child and dear to my heart for many reasons. The second is my mom at 81 still young at heart and trying to fit on Santa's lap. (Jason) We had fun with many sitting on his lap that day! The last is my "big kids." Another four that are dear to my heart. I miss not sharing the days with them sometimes.....but they have their lives and I am happy for them and enjoy the times we are blessed to share. :)

More of the children

Just wanted to post a few more pictures of my crazy and goofy grandchildren. They are such a joy in my life but can wear this grandma out pretty quickly when all are together! :) They love playing together though and getting together even if it is only a few days each year! This Christmas after all the toys and things they received, the last day Amanda's kids were here they spent the afternoon playing in a "tent" mamaw made. I remembered how I enjoyed tents as a kid and just enjoyed pretending to hide from the world! Just goes to show that sometimes it is just the simple things they enjoy the most. :) Life is good!

Our children!!

Lisa placed this picture of Brennen on her facebook today and I just had to smile. :) This boy will be a teacher's nightmare! He is always playing the clown and loves it. ( I am not sure where he gets all this??!!) He has been such a joy in my life though.....as are all my grandkids. There is just something about grandkids! After a hard day at work and other things going on in ones life.....you can look at the innocence and the joy in the little ones eyes and your heart can just melt and smile. :) Must be why Jesus wanted the little ones to come to him also. :) Oh to have their energy and innocence! We as their parents and grandparents have such a tremendous task in mentoring these precious souls. The best gift we can give them is that of ourselves, our time, and our example. Love on them a little more today! XOXOXOX

Restoration! :)

As I went to bed last eve...my thoughts went back to the days work on the old oak table. I recalled Anita asking me as I sat outside with sawdust and gummed up paint all over me, "Why do you do this?" She went on to say she would just paint the thing another color and add yet a fourth coat of paint to it! I just smiled and said, "I just enjoy working on things and restoring it to the original beauty." I thought more on this last eve and asked myself again...."Why DO I take hours of my time to do things like this?? Am I only wasting valuable time??" It takes patience, "elbow grease," time and a love of restoring wood to even do this. This old oak table has had three coats of paint put on it over the years..... But underneath all the ugly paint is a beautiful oak table...with a few nicks in it to remind me of some of the rough treatment it has had over the years. As I thought about this I realized.... so it is with us as humans sometimes!!! Over the years we also have "muck" thrown on us! We have layers of lies, sins, adversities, etc heaved on top of us. We often deal with this "muck" in all the wrong ways with addictions, more sin, depression, anger, bitterness, etc. Underneath God created us a beautiful diamond, but sometimes we cannot see that diamond because of all the muck that has been thrown on us over the years. Just as it takes my time to restore this table.....It takes the patience, love, and time of our Creator to restore us and remove all the "muck" that covers us. If we will allow him, God can restore us to the beautiful person he created us to be. God has given each of us a purpose....just as this table has a purpose. One can choose to leave the table in a garage covered with cobwebs and dirt and not allow it to be used for its real purpose....Some may even choose to trash it! Or.... one can choose to restore it and bring it back to its original beauty and purpose. We can also choose to allow God to restore us........allow him to clear the cobwebs from our heads, remove the "muck" and restore us! Unfortunately some choose to remain in the "garages of their lives" covered with the cobwebs and try to "cover up" the muck with addictions, etc.....not ever discovering the real purpose that God has for their lives. Only in giving it all over to God and allowing him to guide us through life can we ever realize the "diamond" he has created in us and realize our full potential. This table I am restoring will always have a few "nicks" on it to remind me of years of usage.....we, as humans will also always have a few "nicks or scars" to remind us of where we have been. We will sometimes falter and waver as we look at these scars and are reminded how they got there. But....because of God's love, grace and mightiness we can find that purpose he created us for! So in ending......this is just a long way of saying how grateful I am today for a God of second chances, a God who removes the muck from my life, a God who created me to be a diamond, a God who has a purpose for me (even if some days I am not sure what it is!) and a God who has blessed me more than I can ever express! Yes....I even thank God for the "scars" that remind me of where I have been.....because they also remind me of how far I have come! :) So....to answer my own question.....maybe there is a hidden reason I enjoy restoring old furniture and creating new things.....it is because God took the time to restore me! :) Have a blessed day and seek the purpose in your life!

I am blessed! :)

It has been another busy day....but a great one. I have been doing some early spring cleaning and trying to get rid of things we no longer use and shift things around. Today I also worked more on an old oak table that has three coats of paint on it! A major job but one that will be a piece of art when I finally accomplish getting the paint off and get it restained and varnished. Some wonder why I painstakingly work on what seems like an endless task and for what??!! But I enjoy creating things and working with my hands. As I sit out in the 4o some degree temps today I also could not help but thank God that I am able to do these things and I have the health and ability to accomplish the tasks. I know many who cannot and would give anything to be in my shoes. For one thing, I am blessed to have the tools and the material blessings that I have and then there is my health....So much to be thankful for. So again as I begin a new year....I am thankful that I can do these things and have the energy, the ambition ,and the means to do what I do. God is good! :) Now if God can just bless me with lots of willpower and ambition to exercise more and loose weight this year! :)

A New Year with New Beginnings

I have been journaling for years and have always enjoyed writing to friends and my kids. Recently I have done journals for both of my children about my life, my adversities, how I have gotten to where I am, etc. So.....as I begin another year....my 55th to be exact, I thought I would make this a bit easier and do it the modern way and begin my own blog. Not that anyone wants to read this stuff because I am certainly not the smartest apple on the block...but nonetheless...it gives me an opportunity to communicate my thoughts and what is happening in my life. Today I have been working on cleaning out the house a bit and taking things I no longer want to the curb! I also lived up to my reputation and played "chain saw mamma" again as I chainsawed a few trees in the yard. We have lost a total of 7 trees this year...not counting the ones that a guy cut down for the wood! So my chainsaw is really doing overtime this year! My body is telling me tonight I am too old for this...but I never was one to listen too well. :) I am now resting, blogging, and watching the Sugar Bowl.....my body likes this alot more! So.....I will end for tonight and go read some. I pray each of you have a blessed 2009 and that God continues his goodness and blessings to us all! He is sooooo good and soooooo mighty! :)