A Time To Reflect

As the year is ending soon, just what are we thinking most about? I know we all have things that differ greatly. Christmas is a happy time to be with friends and family, to celebrate Our Savior's birth. What a great thing to be able to focus on that, and be thankful.
Other things may cloud our minds for a period of time amid this celebration. We may have lost someone very close to us over the last year, I know I have, and that brings sadness, until I remember God was merciful and took her to her eternal home He prepared just for her.
Jesus was sent to bring us hope, and this season surely does, if we open our hearts to it. We may not give expensive gifts, but we can lend and ear to listen, and act in a way to help others. We all have that ability of caring and sharing.
"Merry Christmas!'
grandma

Why and What do we Celebrate at Christmas?

I know the believers celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and Lord. We give gifts to our lived ones in remembrance of the One that saved and forgave our sins. His life He gave for each of us, so that we could have life eternal with Him. A gift we can never repay. So what does the rest of the world believe? What do they believe, or do they think about, the serious side of the holiday? Some may think of all the wonderful food and gifts, never knowing why. Just a date on the calender called a holiday. I like the lights, decorations and food and being with family too, but not forgetting it is all because of Jesus. Let us celebrate Christmas with thankfulness and praise. Merry Christmas!
grandma

A Song Title, But More

Just a song title, you may say, "Sometimes I Cry". Much more is in that, than a song title. We cry out of joy, thankfulness, and all very emotional situations, we find difficult to face. Many times we lose the person so very close to us, and causes us to grieve as if it will never end.  That is where I find myself today, and have in times past. So many hurtful things are done in families because of greed, jealously and just wanting to look good in the eyes of the world, and always wanting to be in control. I fear for all the self-righteous folk when they stand before God with all of their always "being right" attitude. Mistakes are made in every family I know of, and a finger is almost always pointed at one that has had a very rocky life as not being worthy of this or that. God knows all about the secret sins these individuals have, and are committing in their daily lives as well. God hasn't chosen anyone to judge my rights and wrongs, and neither should anyone feel so above any of us to do so. Addictions are just that, and many harm the body, doesn't mean this or that person isn't lovable and needs trampled on verbally by family and whoever takes issue with it. If someone wants to get religious about it, why not help them rise above it, Jesus taught that. One thing to remember they are just as important in the eyes of God as you and I. So where are we when we see what God sees in us? Yes, I do sometimes cry.

The "What If's?????????

Something we may all think about at times. What if my parents, grand parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings and quite possible our children were still here to communicate with. Many friends we held close during all of those years as well. We needed them all of those years to teach and share with us and maybe in some way prepare us for our now aging years. Makes each and every year harder as we go along making decisions, holidays only memories of what once was. It is a new page, but still a page in our lives as we try to stay independent in our living arrangements day to day. So little time is spent with those aging and phone calls so few. Maybe a better question would be "what is most important in the life of people today?" All, or most will reach an age when things are harder to accomplish without help. Sadly, this is what I see and hear when I'm out to shop on my own. Sometimes, someone may hold a door for you, other times not, just easier not to see you. Many things along life's way may make us stronger, and some refer to as stubborn, but it was what we had to do. Just trying to "get over" the "what if's" in a positive way. As a song so well says it, "I Will Go On".

A Day To Give Thanks

So many thoughts go rushing through our minds when we think of family and friends that have paid the cost of freedom for our very lives. A husband and brother having served in the military, along with countless cousins uncles and so many friends. My husband was so young, in WW11 overseas, just out of high school fighting in foreign countries. Very few stories do I know of his from that time, only that it was a time that fear must have griped the soul of every man. May have been the effects of that time that took his life much too soon, I'll never know. The thing I remember most of him saying was on his return home from overseas is. "The Statue of Liberty was the most beautiful lady I have seen".  I miss so many today that didn't get to return to homes and families as well.  I will fly my flag for our great country and all it represents.
grandma

Happy Easter!

Just a simple "Happy Easter"! to everyone. In my younger days I looked forward to many things not even as something spiritual in this season. Hardly seems possible now. Yes, I knew it was the resurrection of Jesus, but it has taken on a much deeper meaning as decades have passed. Anyone can know things, but in their heart not feel them. That was the way it may have been for me when I was young. Not anymore, when I think and read and study what Easter is. It isn't a new dress and shoes or a spring outfit of any sort. It is a newness of life the resurrection brought to all believers. HOPE is what it brings because of his great LOVE in what he did on that cross for each of us. I know I'm loved!
God Bless,
grandma

Being Thankful, Isn't Something New!

No not new to me at all, it's the life I try to live. My grand daughter came today and wanted to help me with a chore I can no longer do, and hesitate to ask others to do. May sound small to folks young and agile, to me a big thing. I needed the furnace filter changed  in the basement, and she graciously did it for me. How thankful I am for her and her caring about me. I gave her starts of some blooming plants she will plant around her house. So appreciate her wanting something from my place to grow around her house.
A friend I had many years ago and I renewed our friendship some years ago while her mother was in a nursing home. Thinking back, I know why, we needed each other in these days of uncertainty. Her husband is failing and both need encouragement from friends. So thankful if God can use me in this time. I appreciate the church that gives messages of HOPE for all the Internet watchers as well as those attending. I was taken aback hearing they had received a note from Mt. Carmel, IL today. Yes, my friend knew who it was from, and brought tears to her eyes, the distance doesn't matter. We share the same promises of Hope wherever we may be. So thankful it's all possible.
God bless,
grandma

"3:16"

This morning I awoke early with a scripture John 3:16 going through my mind. Not so strange, because I have many reminders of God's love for me. I was having leg cramps, which are not too uncommon for me. I glanced at my clock and there was the time "3:16".  Call it whatever you think, to me it was another reminder how much I am loved by my Heavenly Father. How can I not tell others! Thank you Lord!
genadma

Today, I Celebrate

Today I will celebrate the birth of my son, Gary. He was born on this day in 1961 weighing 6 lbs. 71/2 oz's, a bundle from heaven. Diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at an early age, when it was rare for someone so young to have it. Thanks to better medical treatments, many will live better lives today. The daily shots we referred to as "treatment", never complaining he endured this his entire life. We were blessed by his life in so many ways. He touched many lives with the nearly 9 years of dialysis 3 days a week. Today I will celebrate his life, and not mourn his being called home to where he was sure of going .............A song comes to mind "Celebrate Me Home".  I think he would he have wanted that.
"goodnight Gary, I love you!"
Mom

What Will Be Remembered About You?

Probably the question is strange to those that have no thought of ever leaving the life they have. I think we may all have had that frame of mind at one time. Today a neighbor is being laid to rest. Only another person, other than myself, remain within the block area from the year I moved here. Makes it very real now. Their front porch was where the neighbors were drawn to to visit. No more do we know the people in our block, all younger people that don't have time for a quick wave of the hand to say Hi! No one calling each other to see how they are, if they need anything, or just to be a friend. I remember this couple because they always cared. They cared about me and my family and how we were. They cared about my son's illness, they cared about how I was when my husband and son passed. Maybe knowing you cared with be something others will remember you for.
Grandma

How It Was, And What I Remember Most.

The memory is a very complex thing for each of us, and has its challenges at times. I go back to my early childhood and remember a lot of hardships my family came through. Things commonplace then, but unheard of in this day and age we are living in. It was not a disgrace to be poor, and I never felt I was. I knew I was loved and that was enough for me. My parents were hardworking and we lived a very frugal life. For one thing we had no electricity or inside plumbing, no radio except "sometimes" when the battery wasn't dead. A lot of times no car, meant walking where ever we went, living in a converted grainery was our home. My mother washed our clothes on a washboard, heated the water on the stove, or sometimes when the weather was so hot, on an outside fire. She ironed our clothes by heating the irons on a stove, which I still have, and remember using them to help iron such things as handkerchiefs and flat pieces. My parents always had a garden and my mother canned a lot of food for the winter months. A hog was slaughtered for the meat, and lard they would rendered from the fat. Most of what groceries that were bought was flour, sugar and salt. There wasn't such things as packaged foods, and "instant" anything in those days. Very seldom did we have an ice box for saving food. Mother always cooked 3 meals a day, besides all the things she did to care for us. An ice box required a purchase of ice to keep things cooled sometimes delivered by a local man we duded the "ice man".  Our "dwelling" was heated with a coal stove. There was a time when it was the only source of cooking our food, most uncomfortable heating the house unbelievably hot in the summer. At a point in time, we acquired a used kerosene 3 burner stove to use during the summer. What a blessing that was!  We usually had a cow to supply our need for milk, another blessing, I might add. If this is boring and sounds outlandish, I want you to know we owe a lot to the ones that came before us. I am most blessed to have had parents that loved and cared for me. In the new year, just beginning, what are you thankful for?
grandma