Bittersweet August

August is a bittersweet month for my family.  Several birthdays to celebrate --

my dad, my uncle, cousins, mine ...

 and my Aunt Hilda's birthday ...

 

A few years ago I wrote a series of posts about my silent milestone "48"... here's the links:

 A Silent Milestone ... Remembering ... Reflection ... Revealing

 

 

The morning of August 15, 1980 ... my Aunt Jacqueline "Hilda" had taken her youngest daughter to shop for clothes to start high school.  Coming back home on the wet 2 lane country road -- the semi truck had been swerving and going across the solid yellow line.  In the straight stretch about 12 miles or so from home ... the semi driver was across the yellow line again --- this time he smashed into the car going in the opposite direction ...

my Aunt & cousin.
He was driving drunk.

 

Sometimes I can remember that day like it was yesterday. One of my cousins came to pick me up early and seeing her drive up to the band building, I told my band director that something was wrong and that I had to leave.  (I returned 2 weeks later.)

 

{I won't go into detail right now but sometime in the future I do want to write it all down for my future generations to know what an awesome Aunt we lost that day.}

 

The days that followed were vivid but yet a blur as well.  I was 15 years old at the time.

One of my uncles birthday is August 16 ...

 

The evening of August 17, 1980 was the visitation at our small home church. About two miles from our homeplace. I have never seen so many people from our little community in one place than that night!

 

The date on pic is prior to but this was the size in 1980.

 

Everyone was devastated ...

especially my Granny {Lucy}

 

The rainy day of August 18, 1980 ... we said our final good-byes to my

Aunt Jacqueline "Hilda" on her 48th birthday.

 

August 20 is my Daddy's birthday ( he will be 77 this year -- and still working)

 

August 24 is my birthday. 

I turned 16 just nine days after "the wreck" ... this year I'll turn 51.

 

Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of my Aunt Hilda ...

and I know that one day I will see her again.

 

 Heaven certainly gained a special angel 35 years ago ...

and her legacy lives on through her namesake --

our daughter Jacqueline.

 

 

Celebrating His 53rd ...

I've had the honor of celebrating the past 31 birthdays with this guy. 

We started dating in September 1983 ...

he turned 22 on March 9, 1984 ...

we eloped on May 16, 1984.

Lots of changes through the years ...
lots of "life" through the years ...
lots of us through the years.

Monday was a busy day at his office (corporate deadline coming up!) He met Lucy & me at her dance class & then off for a Sweet Frog birthday treat (Granny forgot to take pictures!) So, this evening (Wednesday), his office building had a mandatory evacuation so he & I went to dinner.  Now home for the evening and he is settled in at his home office to do a little "offline" work ... their office may be "paperless" to a certain point but it's good for him to have hard copies to keep the work flowing! I love my husband & all that he does for his family. Here's a few pics through the years.

 From the boy of the '80s who caught my eye one day in the hall at our high school  ...

 



 

 

 ... the girl who adores her Daddy ...

 

 

... the little ones who simply love Grandad ... 

 

 

 

 

... and I'm thankful that he chose me to share all of his birthdays with ...

 

 

 



I look forward to sharing many more birthdays with my husband!

 

Have a blessed week, my  friends!

 

 

 

The Wordless Month

So ... I had this post all laid out with words and pictures ... then I must have hit a button on my laptop (still in the learning phase of this new touch-screen) ... and every single thing disappeared -- except for the title and the labels. 

So, in a nutshell (since I cannot remember everything I had previously written) ...

We're still transitioning in our household and sometimes the words just aren't there for me.  As much as I try to write a post, sometimes my mind gets so cluttered with things that are going on & I simply just have to "abide" (CLICK HERE to read the significance)

 

Over the past several weeks ...

 

GG and Grandpa came for a visit when Jacqueline & the 2 little ones were home.  As you can see, it's always a great time with all the "greats"!

 And then our family vacation to Disney World ...

Granny knocked over the "50" ---

we celebrated "everything Tag" since he's a tax season kid ---

celebrated Lucy entering her school career ---

 and on our last night there, Lucy lost her first tooth!



I've got more pics to show of the past couple of weeks, but will post them in a day or so. We've had a wonderful weekend and now it's time to get ready for a busy week ahead...

 

As I may not have posted as often over this past month, it is always my desire that

my words are HIS words.  It's quite often that when my words are quieter or

perhaps even unspoken ... that His words are my focus and my meditation. 

And it's a reminder to me that He always directs my path as well as (hopefully)

the words to my posts.

 

Have a blessed week, dear friends ...

 

and may God direct your steps through each and every moment of your days.

 

 

 



My 50 Things ...

Some people view "knocking over another decade" as a milestone ... I am the opposite.  The one birthday that I truly considered my "milestone" has come & gone. I won't clutter this post with links, but a few posts from August 2012 and 2013 give some details on my "milestone" birthday and the events that led to it being my milestone.

Now my 50th birthday is coming around very soon ... in less than a week. So, in honor of the "big 5-0" I've written 50 things I am grateful for & what I consider as blessings.  There's been lots of changes & transitions in our household lately, so I'm looking at this next chapter positively.  After all, God breathed the promise that He would work all things for the good for His children. And, as I am a child of God -- I can not only count my blessings but I can also see when things weren't necessarily a piece of cake to live through ... but He turned those into the good for where I am now. 

 

These are not in any certain order of importance or my gratitude for them, they are simply "some" of the things I am grateful for ... this list does not cover everything I'm thankful for either.  I will say that the most important blessing to me is the blood of Jesus Christ -- God's one & only beloved Son -- who took the punishment for my sin so that I would live eternally with Him. Every of thing on this list stems from God's mercy & grace to me through Jesus Christ.

And so ... here it goes:

~~~ Our family's little "holler" where I grew up having my parents, my Granny, cousins, aunts & uncles all around me -- Granny's house in the center (and my sister coming along almost 9 years after me)

~~~ The close-knit community I grew up in {a community which had a population small enough that we all knew each other's families}
~~~ My hometown church where I was baptized in the creek that ran behind it
~~~ My Granny's front porch where the grown-ups would swing on the porch while all us kids would play in Granny's front yard
~~~ My Granny's back porch where memories were shared & made ... from the glider to the swing to the rocks to the trees -- and the old well-pump house stood to the side
~~~ Teachers who were family or friends, and probably had taught other family members -- and knew all families of their students
~~~ My Granny's gardens where I would work alongside to help plant & harvest vegetables/flowers

~~~ Memories of good times growing up in our little corner of country-life

~~~ The old dipper of Granny's that was used to water her flowers as well as hung over her kitchen sink so that all of us could use to get a drink of water when we wanted
~~~ Wisdom gained throughout the years ... even through some tough lessons
along the way
~~~ Swimming in the creek across the road and the old swinging bridge that crossed the creek & bike rides with my uncle leading the way
~~~ Relationship values ... family values ... Christ-centered life
~~~ The little blonde girl who always dreamed ... and still dreams as
she approaches her 50th
~~~ Friends who walked alongside during the crazy years & stayed around for years to come

 

~~~ For God's grace during life-changing crises
~~~ For dirt roads that teach us more of life's lessons than we imagine
~~~ For best friends' parents who become just like 2nd parents
~~~ For technology that has brought many new friendships into my life
~~~ Today ... these truly are the "good ol' days"
 ~~~ New community with new opportunities & the city that would be now known as "home"
~~~ Circles of friends to share with as our kids grew up in our church ministries

~~~ Reconciliation ... restoration ... redemption
~~~ God's unending mercies & grace when we had all but given up
~~~ Hometown pastors who were more than pastors -- and counted as life-long friends always
~~~ Nail-scarred hands to welcome loved ones who are still missed everyday
~~~ For pursuing the dreams that God had instilled & knowing we walked in His center
~~~ For the miracle of life when the doctor gave no hope of becoming parents
~~~ For the promise that He will work all things for my good since I am His child
~~~ Laughter, giggles & chaos as well as quiet times
~~~ Walt Disney's vision of family fun togetherness
~~~ Being stretched beyond my comfort zone when sometimes I'd rather become a recluse

~~~ Social media reconnecting me with old friends
~~~ Work ethic, character & integrity (hopefully mine as a positive)
~~~ For hiking the hillsides of my country community
~~~ Birthdays & celebrations ... anniversaries & births ... weddings & reunions
~~~ Out of the whole world, my country is the United States of America
~~~ Those who have prayed, sustained and held up the arms of our kids especially during these past 2 1/2 years
~~~ For the Internet that provides reconnection with life-long friends

~~~ Friends who simply walk alongside me although we may be miles apart or just do not get together as often as in the past
~~~ Past friendships that may have been for a season ... but will always be with me
~~~ God's unfailing grace toward me ... although I sometimes fall short of extending grace to others
~~~ My daughter Jacqueline & the heritage of her namesake of her great-aunt
~~~ My 2 grandchildren Lucy & Tag who carry family names & heritage to pass down to future generations
~~~ My Mother who taught a very young girl to pray
~~~ My Daddy who taught that young girl that your character matters
~~~ Challenges that grow me ... and peace that sustains me
~~~ My Granny ... who was always there for me

~~~ Changing seasons that illustrate so vividly that God never leaves us where we are
~~~ My husband who followed God's design for him before he accepted Him ... 
we're going on 31 years together ... and it just gets better
~~~ Every breath is the most precious gift from God ... and not taken for granted

 

These 50 things certainly do not include every detail on my thankfulness ...
but I'm looking forward to sharing more blessings in the posts to come ...

I'm looking forward to "knocking over another decade" very soon!

 
  

 



 

 

Looking Forward with Thankfulness

Five days in to the new year ... and I have already been reflecting as well as looking forward.  So far in 2014, I have yet to make it to the gym or even workout at home.   But my goals for this year go beyond a resolution to get healthier & lose weight.  My goals are more internal than external.  
This year of 2014 is a big year for all of us ... we all are moving forward.  So, what better way to begin the new year and each new day than looking inward at my heart attitude?

I haven't normally had a life verse that I cling to during the year, but this year is different.  
And so here is my verse ...

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, 

therewith to be content.  Philippians 4:11 KJV

This is my verse for the upcoming year ... 

it doesn't matter how much I have or what I have.

I'm content because

Jesus is simply enough.

I'm so very thankful that I don't have to write with flowery words ...

I don't have to be someone that I'm not ...

I don't have to be a Bible scholar ...

Jesus loves me.

Like I said, this is a big year in our household -- 

the 30-50-K:

Dan & I will celebrate our 30th anniversary

I will celebrate my 50th birthday

Lucy will begin Kindergarten

The older I get, the more I realize that it's the everyday that matters most. 

Nothing elaborate, nothing fancy, nothing earth-shattering.

It's the little things in my everyday that makes me thankful --

the little giggles and kisses I get from my grandbabies ...

Tag's "I yuuuv youuuuu, Nanny" ...

Lucy's "you're the best, Nanny" ...

It's the way my husband takes time in the mornings to have breakfast with me ...

the way he has the grandbabies balanced at the kitchen counter trying to eat his dinner ...

the way he says "I love you, Sweetheart" at the end of every day ...

It's the little things in everyday life that matters most ...

 and these little things become the monumental cornerstones in life.

So, with the new year here upon us and just a few days into the freshness of new beginnings ...

I'm already clinging to my verse.  Knowing with open eyes that there will be challenges and trials and hardships to endure ...

but His mercies are new every morning.

And I can do all things that make up my goals' list through Him because He is my strength in the midst of my weaknesses.
I will press onward to meet my external goals but only as my internal goals reflect His greatness and His glory.

Perfect life?

absolutely not ...

Perfect me?

not by a long shot ...

Perfect Savior?

ahhhhhhhh, YES!!!!!!!

Now, without a doubt, I know that I will backslide and not everyday will I cling to this verse.  I know that I will cling to my own flesh and my own wants of my own way.  But His ways are not my ways, and He will give me His peace that will pass my feeble understanding of certain situations that will come my way. 

But, as long as I awake every morning, I will have a brand new day to start again.

And thank God, He will accept me just as I am.

I do look forward to realizing my goals for this year and will endeavor each day to become more like Christ who lives in me.

2014 is the year of our 30-50-K ...

and I thank God He already awaits each new day for me.