That Eye Right There

You've heard me mention my family on many, many occasions--all of my family is important.  My immediate family, my extended family, and then there is my church family--all of these people are very important to me. They All have a very special place in my heart.  But just look at that set of Great-Grandparents (and that Gan-Gan) for a moment and those tremendous smiles on those sweet grandparent-ly faces.  Do they ever take their role seriously-- the Great-Grandparent role.  Hence, the smiles on those faces.  They love that little girl in the photo.   But, then so do I.  She's my grandbaby--the apple of this Gan-Gan's eye.  And do they ever love the little girl's Mommy.  So do I.  She's my daughter.  Wait.  Apple of my eye-- all of a sudden, I was just reminded of something G-Baby said when she was here during the time this picture was made. It would have been just a few weeks until her 3rd birthday. Gan-Gan was telling G-Baby that she was the apple of  Gan-Gan's eye. With a very intense and sincere inquisition, she got right up to my face and pointed her little finger right at the center of  my eye and proceeded to ask, " That eye right there?".  Of course, being the all adoring Ganny that I am,  I thought that it was "angelic".  Now, tell the truth, You just did too!!  Well, she does come up with some of the cutest things--but all grandmothers think that universal way, don't they?  I'm not out of the ordinary, no not at all.  Now, back to "family".  More specifically, that set of doting Great-Grandparents in the photo.  My parents.  It's their fault.  It is just what we saw growing up--my grandparents loved their children, and the grandchildren and the great grandchildren.  You get the picture. My folks are just like their folks.  It's been passed down from generation to generation.  There was never a doubt how our parents felt about us and our children and now our children's children.  Whoa, that's a paperful!!  But it's just the truth. My daughter is my parents' 1st grandchild and they tried to get away with keeping her at their home every possible moment. Isn't that called kidnapping?  Remind me to check in to that!  They did try to, no matter what they say.  They loved her. Still do. They love ALL their grandkids, but she was the first and we lived only a couple of miles from them.  So, they were close.  Still are. They are overjoyed with the blessings of the 2 great-grandbabies. My sister has her own grand baby now.   Thank the Lord for phones!  How they love to talk on the phone to G-Baby.  It brings such smiles to their faces. Just like the big smiles in that photo.  Yes, family is all  important to me.  Each person has a special place in my heart.  And G-Baby, you are the apple of your Gan-Gan's eye.  That eye right there!!  Until We Meet Again...

Mom and Daughter

What a blessing it is to have a caring, loving daughter.  When I was told that a hysterectomy was in order for me in 2002, my precious daughter arranged to take a few days off from her job and come down to take care of her ailing Mom.  For a while, I didn't think that she was going to make it in time to tell me "bye" and give me a little going away kiss.  Finally she and her hubby came walking into the small cubbie where they were holding me captive before wheeling me into the operating room.  My daughter lived in another state so she and her husband had to travel to get here. It slips my mind what ever could have slowed them down--but it doesn't matter now.  All that mattered is that she did make it in time to see me off.  The surgery was an overwhelming success. I did extremely well, due to the prayers of God's people. James 4:16 says ..."pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  And to the wonderful care of my very capable daughter.  She not only stayed with me in the hospital, but she came home with me upon my release.  She took excellent care of me, being a wonderful cook and housekeeper. And she has the gift of comfort.  She kept me fed, comfortable and comforted the entire 8 days she blessed me with her presence.  Just she being with me, was a healing factor all its own.  I love my beautiful daughter--it was very much an answer to prayer she being here to look after me.  I'm so very thankful to my son-in-law for doing without his lovely wife for those 8 days.  This Mom's heart is forever thankful for the Lord's healing hand upon my body and for a caring, loving daughter that He so caringly and lovingly blessed me with.  Until We Meet Again...

Be Ye Not Bitter

Ephesians 4:31&32 says "Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you".  Long ago, someone hurt me to the bone. Someone that I loved with all my heart.  The year was 1981.  Growing up, I had always thought if it happened to me, there would be "NO WAY" that any such thing could ever be forgiven.  The sheer thought of any such thing was reason enough to never look at the person again-- the person that could inflict such grief and pain.  It would just have to be the end of the relationship--plain and simple!!  Yet, the unthinkable had indeed happened.  Then, the Lord in His grace and mercy, showed me in an instant, who was I NOT to forgive this person--when Christ had given His life for ME.  Who was I not to forgive this person-- oh, beloved person--when Jesus Christ had taken ALL my sin and bore it on the Cross of Calvary? He had saved my soul. He had spared me from the horrible pit of hell.  There in the dark, on my knees, I asked the Lord to forgive ME for this flagrant display of arrogance.   He did.  I immediately asked Him to help me to forgive the person that had caused this horrific pain. He then did a marvelous act of grace in my heart. Love, compassion and forgiveness flooded my soul like the deepest ocean!!  He also helped me to learn to love this person more than I could have ever imagined.  Yes, let us put all bitterness away and love one another as we have been commanded by our Lord and Saviour.  Lord, help us to love each other as we should.  Let us also learn to forgive in the same manner in which we ourselves have been forgiven. Amen.  Until We Meet Again...  

Look at that Little Face

Now, just look at that little girl's face on that old photo.  She obviously was in a sheer state of ecstasy sitting upon the back of that beauty of a pony.  She looks as though she adores the pony as a precious pet that has a very special place in her heart.  In reality, it was a photographer that would go around making pictures of children sitting on his pony. But it didn't matter to the child in the photo ~ horses were everything to her, even though she never got the opportunity to be around them.  That's the reason for the sheer look of delight upon her little face ~ she was probably daydreaming for that one brief few moments that the beautiful black pony was hers. It had been told that she loved horses from the time that she was about a year old.  So, yes, she was in total ecstasy sitting on the back of that small pony.  How would I know about the joy the child was feeling?  Because, the little face in the old photo that was so enthralled with the black pony ~ belongs to ME!  Until We Meet Again...

His Glorious Return

Life is so interesting and so short--I want to live it in faith in my Lord, being true to Him, unwavering, waiting on His glorious Return to take us, that know Him as personal Saviour, Home to Heaven. The Sunday School lesson for my little primaries just today was about Jesus' promise to prepare that place for us and His coming to gather us up someday. Jesus is God Almighty and cannot lie. The trumpet will sound and Jesus will descend with a shout that all those belonging to Him will hear! Ah, it can't be far off --Are you ready? Time is short , it could be today. Until We Meet Again...

My Dear Granny

There's never been another one like her and there never will be. It was such a blessing to sit at her knee and learn about Jesus. She taught me that He was Lord of Lords and King of Kings and that He was coming again. Yes, Granny, I'm watching, waiting and LISTENING for the trumpet to blow and for the Lord to rapture us up to be with HIM and all of our loved ones that have gone on before. Besides seeing the face of the Blessed Saviour, yours is one that I just can't wait to see next. The way things are going in the world, it will not be long now--Until We Meet Again...

G-Baby is Grand

The G-Baby. Until We Meet Again...

GAN-GAN and the GRAND BABY

Now, isn't that a bea-U-ti-ful baby? That's the G-baby at two weeks old. My son-in-law and I had taken her for her 2 week check-up. Mommy was at home recuperating from a C-section. So, I was doing my GAN-GAN-ly duty!! She is four now and is she ever a beauty!! Until We Meet Again...

SALVATION!

I praise the Almighty Saviour for saving my rotten self when I was an 11 year old kid the last night of Vacation Bible School that my church (at the time) was conducting that summer. The preacher preached on "Hell" and what was carrying one there. SIN WAS!! I realized that I was a sinner that needed to be saved. My eternal destination was at stake! I practically RAN down the aisle when he gave the altar call after preaching that intense sermon that Friday night. The Lord saved me, not because of any "good" in or of me. The Bible says that all my goods are as "filty rags". No one, NO, not a single person can come up to God's standards--He is the only perfect ONE. YES, I saw my need of a Saviour, and asked Jesus to cleanse me that night by His precious blood that He shed at Calvary. NO One took Jesus' life--HE layed it down "WILLINGLY" for me and for YOU!! It was part of the wonderful plan of SALVATION. O GLORIOUS DAY!! I am free from the guilt and shame of sin and Jesus has promised that where He is, I shall be there also, because He has prepared for me a place (the place being--HEAVEN.) I do not have to worry about that place called HELL, because I have accepted this FREE gift--called SAVATION!! My only worry of HELL, is that of unsaved FAMILY and FRIENDS and STRANGERS that I meet on the street going there as their eternal destination--this GRIEVES my soul!!! Until We Meet Again...

A TRUE FRIEND

A TRUE FRIEND is one to Whom you can pour out the contents of your heart, Chaff and grain together, Knowing that the gentlest of hands Will take it and sift it, Keep what is worth keeping and With the breath of kindness blow the rest away. This was found on a plaque and given to me by my BestFriend. Until We Meet Again...

You Mean God's Will, Not Mine?

Oh, to be in the perfect will of the Lord Jesus Christ. What comfort it brings to the believer's heart to be in the center of His will. Amidst the most heart breaking storms of life, we can know the calm of being held in the Hand of a loving God. When we submit our own stubborn, self-will to His sovereign, righteous one and have a right relationship with Him--I John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"--He is able to guide us in circumstances that look impossible to us. But remember, He is Almighty God. He is able to bring into existence anything He desires for us that brings glory to His precious Name and to all of Heaven. When we give our whole heart to Him, only then is He able to navigate us through that storm, only then is He able to bring forth His plan for our lives that produces blessings and joy unspeakable--the peace that passes all understanding spoken of in Philippians 4:7. We, with our frail humanity, may not comprehend all that is taking place while the storm rages. But with the Holy Spirit in control, we know that all things are going to work together for good, according to Romans 8:28. Oh, the Lord can accomplish much with a simple prayer whispered by a submissive heart, "Your will, Lord, not mine". Orginally written on July 29, 2003 by denise. Until We Meet Again...

My Sweet Redeemer's Face

O, to see my Saviour's Face-- The Blessed Keeper of my soul. He freely gave His precious Life--For me to have His Saving Grace. He shed His blood upon the tree-- The innocent Lamb of Calvary. Alone there on the cruel cross-- In agony, He died for me. O, my sweet Redeemer's Face-- The beautiful Rose of Sharon. HOW GREAT THOU ART! For giving me Thy Saving Grace. Orginally written on November 17, 2003 by denise Until We Meet Again...

HS GRADUTION 1997

Until We Meet Again...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Oh No! Malignant Melanoma!

Aunt Evelyn and My Daughter!

It was July, 1991. It was extremely hot. I was extremely ill. My Aunt Evelyn had just passed away herself after a fierce and courageous battle with cancer. The family was all gathered at Marlane's house. Marlane is my cousin. Her Mother was gone and Marlane was ministering to me--I was sick, so very sick. I will never forget the kindness of my cousin. She went into her home and brought me a cool, wet bath cloth to cool me down. It was hot! I was sick! We were sitting on her nice wrap-around porch. The mole on my upper right arm had started to grow. I had to get to the doctor--the whole family urged me to do so. Two weeks after Aunt Evelyn's funeral, we got the news. Malignant Melanoma! Our whole world was turned upside down. There was the dermatologist, the diagnosis, the surgery, the oncologist, Duke Medical Center,treatments, bloodwork, tests-- tests--and more tests!!! Oh no, my daughter is only 12 years old. Lord, please let me rear this child, if it be THY will! Now, here it is 2009, and PRAISE the LORD, He saw fit to spare me these years. MY daughter is now 30 and I've lived to see my grand baby, who is 4. It's still off to the oncologist every 3 months, and to the dermatologist every 6 months, and bloodwork and tests, tests, and more tests at times. But even though that mole was deep, huge and very ugly, the Lord has allowed me to survive. And He certainly gets all the glory for that!! Yes, July 19th, marked my 18th year anniversary of survival and I didn't even notice the heat. Until We Meet Again...

The President, Barbara Bush, Dr. Bob III, and Amy Wood

President and Mrs. George Bush were coming to  the Greenville-Spartanburg  International Airport and nothing could keep me from trying to get there. That is, nothing unless it was my Heavenly Father's will for me not to get there. But, I had faith, much faith. Determined to shake his hand? You bet I was. Would it happen? Could we possibly get close enough to even see him, much less shake hands with the President. I really wanted to shake Mrs. Barbara Bush's hand. She had captivated me with her sweet down to earth spirit. Baking cookies in the White House--what was there not to like about the woman? To me, the Bushes were the epitome of graciousness. We got to the airport early--Really early. We had the entire green area practically to ourselves for what seemed like forever. We had truly meant to be on the front line. I was fighting cancer at the time and it was important to those who loved me to get me there to fulfil this dream of mine. We waited and waited. And then, without warning, the place filled up with what seemed like millions of people. Now, it was more like thousands, but people were everywhere!! And then came the big moment--Air Force I was in sight. Ah, there it came, taxing down the runway--gleaming, shining, sparkling in the sunlight like a brilliantly cut diamond. It was BEAUTIFUL! Loving all planes, it was worth the trip just to see this magnificent flying metal machine. And, then came the magical moment, one that had been twinged with high anticipation for me--they stepped out into full view--President and Mrs.Bush!! What a moment. And then, they started toward the eager crowd. The crowd that was so eager to do the same thing I was there for-- getting a closer look at the President of the United Stated of America and to shake his hand. But much to my utter dismay, by this time, the green was filled with out-stretched hands. I found myself lost in the swirl of people and standing 4 lines back from THEM. Them--that nothing was going to keep me from seeing. Mrs. Bush and I were both just too short for it to happen. I couldn't reach her because of the gulf of people between us. I was more than a little disappointed. President Bush made a quick speech and told us that he was glad to be there in S.C. and to see everyone. BUT, all was not lost--lo and behold, we ran into AMY WOOD from Channel 7 News. She stopped, talked with us, even gave me her microphone, saying that I could say a few words. I was too shy for that, THEN. If only it were now--I'd have more than a few words to say!! Amy, too, was so gracious. She allowed me to have a picture taken with her. Needless to say, that made my day for sure. And would you believe that we saw Dr. Bob Jones III, there that day also! He is definitely one of my heroes--at the top of the list, actually. What an all around wonderful day that was for someone so sick, battling cancer!! It was surely a day to remember. I'll never forget that day and it was made special by so many wonderful people. And unless the Lord didn't want me there, we were going to do everything humanly possible to get there and shake the President's hand. Anything is possible if you put your faith in the LORD. You know, I'm very thankful that President Bush is so gracious and so TALL. For he made every effort to shake as many hands as he could that day. Being so tall, he leaned right over into the crowd and grabbed my hand. Could it be true? Yes, I found myself shaking the hand of the President of the United States of America!! Until We Meet Again...

Yes, I Do Love Purses

You see that little purple purse over there in the corner, don't you? Well, look over there and see. It just happened to be the only picture available. Well, at least where I was looking-that I could choose from- since I didn't have a picture of my own to post. And probably wouldn't know HOW to post it if I did!! We won't dig deep into the fact of how computer illiterate that I really am right now. That's another topic all together for this wanna-be "blogger" at an all together other time. But, I digress, back to the little purple purse. It's no coincidence, at least not in my mind that it should appear there. Let me explain. You see, just a few days ago , my Best Friend of 51 years, yes, that's what I really said, 51 years, just happened to give me a beautiful purple purse for my birthday. It is a beautiful purse, one that will go with numerous things in my wardrobe--I LOVE PURSES! But the purse is of no great consequential matter in and of itself. But now, my dear friend, the one that gave me that little purple purse, she is of great consequential matter. We have been friends for a great long while, and she is one of the most wonderful human beings on the face of the earth. It is unbelievable what this lady does for the ones around her. She is the consumate example of the Proverbs 31 woman. She is a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. She runs the office where she works with the utmost of organizational skills, as well as her own home. The list goes on and on. She has this most amazing "card ministry" --if you're down, count on it, you're in luck when you go to your mailbox. She's brought a smile to my face on countless occasions. She tirelessly works at her church in all capacities. There's just too much to mention here, she is totally selfless-it is always someone else's needs being met by HER. Coincidence that my best BUD gave me a purple purse and then I come here and find a little purple purse to post on my blog? No way--it gave me this opportunity to let the world know about this amazing lady and friend that I have been blessed by the Lord to have in my life for these past 51 years. Yes, that really is 51 years. She is simply the best and she has great taste. I thank the Lord for bringing her into my life. You did see that little purple purse over there in the corner, didn't you? Coincidence? No, not at all. Until we meet again...