Encouragement

I do not advise that we end the year on a somber note. 


The march, not the dirge, has ever been the music of Christianity.


If we are good students in the school of life, there is much the years have to teach us.


But the Christian is more than a student, more than a philosopher.


He is a believer, and the object of his faith makes the difference, the mighty difference. 

Of all persons the Christian should be best prepared for whatever the New Year brings.  He has dealt with life at its source.


In Christ he has disposed of a thousand enemies that other men must face alone and unprepared.


He can face his tomorrow cheerful and unafraid because yesterday he turned his feet into the ways of peace and today he lives in God.


The man who has made God his dwelling place will always have a safe habitation.

A.W. Tozer - The Warfare of the Spirit

The Cookie Thief


Today I enjoyed a Christmas Cookie Exchange with the ladies from my church.  Aside from the enjoyable company and delicious breakfast, we heard a cute poem that reminded us to think kindly of others FIRST!

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight,
She hunted for a book in the airport shop,
Bough a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.
She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see,
That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be,
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between,
Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene.
She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock,
As the gutsy "cookie thief" diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "if I wasn't so nice, I would blacken his eye!"
With each cookie she took, he took one too.
When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do.
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.
He offered her half, as he ate the other.
She snatched it from him and thought, Oh brother,
This guy has some nerve and he's also rude.
Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!
She had never known when she had been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate,
Refusing to look back at the "thieving ingrate."
She boarded the plane and sank in her seat,
Then sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise:
THERE were her cookies in front of her eyes.
If mine are here, she moaned with despair,
Then the others were his and he tried to share!
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!

by Valerie Cox


Here's a picture of the platter of cookies that I took to the party.  They are Molasses Cookies, a recipe  (link) I got from a co-worker in 1979!

Gustava (Gustie) Amanda Daniel Jordan

Today is my paternal grandmother's birthday.

Born in 1896 -  December 11

Died in 1959 -  March 4

when I was only ten months old.

I have a few reminders of her ~

a pastel-colored baby quilt featuring a kitten

several tried and true recipes like Garlic Cream Cheese, 1-2-3-4 Cake, and Cranberry Shrub.

Her just-older sister, Beulah Naomi aka Baba, lived in Atlanta near us, visiting at holidays and occasionally inviting me and my sister to luncheon at Rich's Magnolia Tea Room. Knowing her gave me a tiny bit of insight into my grandmother's personality.

Here's a link to the story I wrote about her four years ago.

But that's not very much.

Guess that means it's time to contact relatives and gather more details about this important lady in my life.

Thanksgiving 2011

Roasted Turkey
Cornbread Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Mushrooms 'n Onions
Shannon's Green Beans
Roasted Cauliflower
Sweet Potato Souffle

Not Pictured ~
Sister Schubert Parker House Rolls
SJ's Homegrown Lettuce 'n Apple Salad
Four different wines compliments of Bert

Piece of Cake Fresh Coconut Cake

Coffee


Around the table we numbered nine:

BaaBee and DanDan
Shannon and Bert
Dana and Ken
PeggyDee and Mark
Vivian

We gathered together to ask the Lord's blessings.

He fails not.

For me the best holiday moment happened around our kitchen table on Wednesday night before the main event.

I was cooking.  DH was eating a sandwich for dinner.

Our 21 y o daughter read aloud to us ~

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving
written by Eric Metaxas
illustrated by Shannon Stirnwels

Thanks, PeggyDee!!

Grace and Providence

Almighty King!  whose wondrous hand
Supports the weight of the sea and land;
Whose grace is such a boundless store,
No heart shall break that sighs for more.

Thy providence supplies my food,
And 'tis Thy blessing makes it good;
My soul is nourish'd by Thy Word,
Let soul and body praise the Lord!

My streams of outward comfort came
From Him who built this earthly frame;
Whate'er I want His bounty gives,
By whom my soul forever lives.

Either His hand preserves from pain,
Or, if I feel it, heals again;
From Satan's malice shields my breast,
Or overrules it for the best.

Forgive the song that falls so low
Beneath the gratitude I owe!
It means Thy praise; however poor,
An angel's song can do no more.


by William Cowper
English Poet and Hymnodist
1731 - 1800


Illustration compliments of USHistoryImages.com

Top Ten Reasons to Join Weight Watchers

1)   I have never tried their plan(s) before.
2)   I want to jump start my metabolism and loose some weight.
3)   I like the vast array of resources and information.
4)   I think the accountability will help my ability to exercise will-power.
5)   I hope to relieve some major indigestion by making better food choices.
6)   I want to use regular food, not packaged meal shakes/protein bars.
7)   I like the online version and mobile application (read no meetings!).
8)   I have a friend who signed up and encouraged me.
9)   My doctor (DH) thinks it's the best diet of all.
10) It changed what I ate for dinner tonight!






Wish me luck!

PS  Photo of homemade Blackeyed-Pea and Sausage Soup and cheddar cheese toast.  Recipe for soup will be posted sometime next week.

Ten Things


After listening to a speech given at a recent tea party rally, I have distilled the message into ten words.  The heart of the message is a prescription for saving not just America but freedom - both political and religious.

1)   Believe
2)   Act
3)   Pray
4)   Discern
5)   Support
6)   Vote
7)   Join
8)   Subscribe
9)   Testify
10) Persevere






I plan to write a vignette about each of these action words.

In the meantime, let's examine the landscape and renew our commitment to culture.

The following quote is from one of my college professors, Russell Kirk.  The garden metaphor gives me more direction and is a huge encouragement.

A culture is perennially in need of renewal.

A culture does not survive and prosper merely by being taken for granted; active defense is always required, and imaginative growth, too.

Everyone is involved.
This is a link to an artist who supports the cause.

Whether you like it or not.

Whether you acknowledge it or not.

Be a force for Good.
This is a link to a expositional sermon on Psalm 111 where the LORD is praised for His Goodness.

Make sure it lasts.
This is a link to an essay about Steve Jobs who died this past week.