daily blessings

WOW what a TEACHER!

2010-09-29T18:06:00.002-05:00

I knew at the age of two that my daughter Katherine had a "gift" for seeing what needed to be done and doing it...not just doing it but doing it to the best of her ability! I didn't know how this would manifest itself, until her high school years, when she made the decision to become a kindergarten teacher...just like her mom! My heart just leaps for joy when I have the opportunity to visit her classroom (it's several hours away so it doesn't happen as often as I would like for it too) and observe first hand the excellent teacher that she has become. Not only does her mom know this but her coworkers honored her with "Teacher of the Year" for 2010 and her parents nominated her for "Walmart Teacher of the Year" in 2009 and she won. Last year she finished her masters in elementary education and her National Boards all in the same year solidifying my impresions of her when she was two years old. All of this lets me see that she is using her God given talents and I have to admit...in only 5 years, she is a better teacher than her mom after 32 years of teacher. AND that my friends is a BLESSING indeed!

Legacy

2009-10-18T18:17:00.003-05:00

You can see my grandniece twins having fun hiding under this round oak table at my mother's (the twins great grandmother) house. Hearing them giggle and play, reminded me of my childhood days. I loved to play with my big sister (the twins grandmother) under this very same table. Crawling between the posts, pretending it was a carousel, or just hanging out in my own little world-this table provided hours of entertainment. It is an antique that was purchased from an old hotel by my father about 55 years ago. I always thought it would be neat if the top would rotate like a lazy susan. It almost looked like it was designed for just that very purpose. Many hours of conversation have taken place around this round table, many stories told, many games played and when this table makes it way to my sisters house, the legacy will continue... which is a blessing indeed!

Happy Birthday Mattie and Ella

2009-08-25T21:00:00.002-05:00

The grandniece twins turned two on Sunday, August 23rd, and the birthday celebration was a Noah's Ark themed party, at a town park, conveniently adjacent to their home. Two years old and two by two, just like Noah's Ark (they have a very creative mom that is a pastor). Each twin had their very own cake shaped like a cloud and a rainbow of cupcakes connected the cakes, carrying out the Biblical theme. In this picture Mattie, the youngest, is in front with Ella behind her and they are dressed in birthday girl t-shirts with birthday bows for their hair. They have Easter Egg cupcakes in their hands which is something they made during the party when their Uncle Joe (my creative hubby aka Unka Doe) found a left over plastic Easter Egg on the playground and showed them how to pack wet sand in the Easter egg making a cupcake. It's hard for me to believe they are two years old but I have thoroughly enjoyed every precious minute with these two during the past two years; in the beginning when they grasped my little finger in the incubator, during the days of balancing two in my lap with a bottle in each hand, during the days when they ran down the hall at preschool with out stretched arms shouting, "NANA, NANA", during the hide and seek games when they would giggle as I found them, during the "snuggle" times holding their "loveys"-reading... book, after book, after book, and then on to the day when they gave me a great big hug and whispered, "I love you"! Well, readers...it just doesn't get better than this! I feel like I've experienced a little bit of heaven here on earth as I've had the privilege of being a special part of the first two years of their lives. Unconditional love-without a doubt and that is a BLESSING indeed!

Kissing Cousins

2009-07-29T18:50:00.003-05:00

I am blessed with a LARGE extended family and many of us live close enough to get together several times each year. My mom had 10 siblings, so I have 23 first cousins just from that side of the family. Then of course, the cousins married... had kids, the kids had kids, and the kids,kids had kids...you get the idea! In this group of cousins we have three sets of twins. On Sunday, we had the opportunity to have dinner with about 5o of the cousins and two sets of twins were able to make it. My grandnieces will be 2 on August 23rd and the other twins shown in the picture (the boy and girl behind Ella and Mattie), turned 7 on Monday. Their grandmother, my aunt Elizabeth, is also in the picture along with my niece and nephew, parents of the grandniece twins. The warmth and love in that room was just overwhelming and knowing that I could count on each of them as lifelong friends is a blessing indeed! And the memories we share...PRICELESS! The memories we continue to make, one dinner at a time...REMARKABLE!

Low Country Boil

2009-07-23T20:03:00.002-05:00

A favorite summer meal at my house is a "Low Country Boil" with shrimp or crab legs. It's quick, easy and cooks in one pot! Clean up is a breeze with just one pot to clean and clearing the table requires wadding everything up into one big newspaper ball. After an afternoon around the pool, there is "nothin" finer-in all of Carolina, than a "Low Country Boil" at the Carson house. This is a picture of the recent "Crab Leg Boil" with my son Ben (the Methodist Minister) and his beautiful wife Jenny. They were home for the weekend to attend Ben's 10 year reunion with his high school class of 1999 and it was such a delight having them home but an added blessing was having so many of his high school buddies stopping by to visit too. It's hard to believe that I'm old enough to have a son that was attending a 10 year class reunion but as the years have passed, I've realized that each year continues to bring rich blessings from God and that the future will be the same with so much to look forward too. A "Low Country Boil," family time around the table, visits from long time friends...a blessing indeed!

Celebrations

2009-07-06T12:17:00.004-05:00

I haven't blogged in so long that I had to update my profile. It has been a busy several months but I have been blessed in so many ways. The picture above is from a fantastic July 4th celebration with friends that live on a beautiful lake nearby. They also had a cake to celebrate my birthday which was the day before the 4th. It had those fun trick candles on it that made it impossible to blow out and they even sang Happy Birthday to this aging 57 year old. It was a pleasant surprise, a great evening, and a blessing indeed!

Here are a few updates: a great anniversary- now married 34 years, the twins are so much fun and will celebrate their 2nd birthday on Aug. 23rd, my kids are busy and happy, I just returned from a fantastic vacation in Chicago with hubby, we head to Savannah, GA this weekend for a wedding celebration, I've hired a new director for the preschool I founded 24 years ago and this has been very time consuming but rewarding, and I am continually blessed with the fruits of my labor from my vegetable and flower garden. Please forgive me for the lack of blogging. I will try to do better but I must confess... I do enjoy face book and I spend WAY to much time on it. Find me, if you haven't already, Nancy Goforth Carson.

Graduation 2009

2009-06-10T19:54:00.004-05:00

It was so much fun celebrating with my sisters family during her daughters graduation from high school. I felt so honored to be a part of all the festivities, surrounded by 18 year old mature young adults, that renewed my faith in our younger generation. They are bright, enthusiastic, adventurous, grounded, and intelligent. Jordan thanks for letting me be a part of this very important day in your life. You are a beautiful young lady with so many God given talents. You have the future in the palm of your hand and I look forward to the great things that God has planned for your life. I am so blessed to be a part of it all!

Happy Birthday Big Sister

2009-05-19T09:14:00.002-05:00

This is my big sister Kathy and today is her BIRTHDAY! We had a chance to meet at Mom's house yesterday and celebrate her birthday a day early, which was a blessing indeed. She has been such a positive influence in my life and has shown me, through example, what unconditional love is all about. Kathy is constantly giving to others, putting other's needs before hers, and she has a contagious bubbly personality, in a tiny 4 foot 10 inch frame! She has taught me so much about life; how to put God first, how to be a great mom, how to be an energetic & effective kindergarten teacher, how to be a forgiving and loving wife, how to be a great sister, how to pick myself up out of the mud and keep on going, and best of all: how to recognize my daily blessings and count them one by one! I love you sister Kathy and I look forward to sharing many more birthdays with YOU, here on earth and... with our Heavenly Father.

Fruit Loop Adventure

2009-05-15T14:16:00.007-05:00

Life is good, fruit loops for snack and Nancy to play with!

Mattie thinks Ella may have more Fruit Loops than she has.

Hey sweet sister Ella, will you cover your eyes for just a second?

Okay Mattie, do you have a surprise for me?

Mattie uses the quick fisted grab!

Not me Nancy, I don't have anything behind my back.

NANCY, Mattie got my Fruit Loops and she's hiding them behind her back!

The grandniece twins are nearly 21 months old now and 25+ pounds. I can still carry them both but not very far or for very long. They are so full of energy and life, investigating, contemplating, and freely sharing their love. I never take a minute with them for granted, as I'm constantly aware of the miracle that God has performed in the lives of these two precious girls, and that is a blessing indeed!

Thank You Heath

2009-05-01T11:25:00.003-05:00

This rose bush grows beside my garage... blooming faithfully from spring until fall each year, BLESSING me one bud at a time. But the biggest reward in the blooming of this beautiful flower is the reminder of the precious student that gave it to me, as an end of the year gift, many years ago. Each time I see a new bud, or cut a flower for an indoor vase... I think of this young man, say a prayer for him and his family, and thank God that he was in my kindergarten classroom. It is definitely a gift that keeps on giving, year after year, bloom after bloom. Thank you Heath for blessing my life in so many ways and for giving me a gift that keeps on giving.

Family Easter Fun

2009-04-14T10:37:00.002-05:00

This family photo includes my daughter Katherine on the left, my niece Meredith visiting from Michigan in the middle, and my son Ben on the right. I only had them for one night but I'll take what I can get... they all have such busy full lives, and live too far away to visit very often. If you look to the far left you will see grand-dog, Mimi, stalking around in search of something to get into. She is a delightful labradoodle puppy, full of energy, and always in search of a new adventure. My life has been so busy lately, some of it good, some of it not so good but it has prevented me from blogging and I've missed all of my blogging friends. I hope to catch up soon with all that's going on in your lives and maybe things will slow down SOON, which would be a blessing indeed!

Little Brown Church

2009-03-20T18:01:00.003-05:00

Isn't this just the cutest "Little Brown Church in the Vale"? I sang this song growing up and can still remember some of the words..."oh come, come, come, come to the church in the Wildwood"! That song popped into my head the minute I first saw this brown stone church and as I sang, I started looking forward to the great things that are ahead for this church. This is the church where my niece has been appointed Senior Pastor and she has already preached there for three weeks. The parsonage isn't ready yet, so she has been traveling back and forth until all of the remodeling is finished. I can just see my twin grandnieces growing up in this precious church, surrounded by God's children, romping on the church playground, and running back and forth from parsonage to church where mommie works. So many wonderful experiences are ahead for this young family and it such a blessing for me to be a part of it ALL!

Twin Update

2009-03-09T19:17:00.005-05:00

My grandniece twins are now 19 months old and continue to be such a blessing to me. Their mom is senior pastor of the Methodist Church in Rutherford College, NC but they are still living in Shelby, NC until the parsonage renovations are complete. The Shelby house has not sold yet, so please continue to pray for them, as they try to sell the house and make the adjustment to a new community and church. Here are a few new pictures to give you an idea of what a blessing it is, to spend one day each week taking care of these precious gifts from GOD!

We love playing outside, especially with our Elmo dolls.

Can you say DOUBLE TROUBLE?

A kiss from me to YOU...

I love you Auntie Nancy!

Happy Birthday

2009-02-26T10:15:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to the love of my life, my husband Joe, shown here on an elk hunting trip in Colorado. He chose me for his bride 33 years ago, after dating for 3 years, and my love for this wonderful man continues to grow. We have been blessed in so many ways but at the top of the list has to be our precious grown children (they both look like there handsome dad) and the fact that we are still happy, healthy and in love! With the help of God, at the center of our marriage, along with a lot of give and take and consistent communication, our marriage has blossomed into something REMARKABLE and that is a BLESSING indeed! Happy Birthday Joe, may we have many more birthdays to share with each other!

Winter Blessings

2009-02-20T13:13:00.003-05:00

On this cold winter day in North Carolina, I'm enjoying this beautiful bouquet of yellow bells (Forsythia). I brought the cold barren branches inside several weeks ago, pampered them with sunlight and fresh water, and now they are rewarding me with a fresh breath of SPRING TIME! I love watching God's beautiful creation blossom right before my eyes and delight in the fact that in few weeks, I get to enjoy this gorgeous display outside! And that my friends, is a BLESSING indeed!

Changes Ahead for the TWINS

2009-02-12T19:57:00.006-05:00

This is my beautiful niece, Sally, with her twin girls, Ella and Mattie, on their first birthday. They are 18 months old now and still just as adorable. Sally has been an associate pastor for a First United Methodist Church, for about seven years, which is about 30 minutes away from my home. Starting March 1st, she will be the SENIOR pastor at a First United Methodist church in Rutherford College, which is about an hour away from me. Normally, all Methodist pastors being moved to a new church, move on July 1st; old pastors move out of the parsonage in the morning, and the new pastor moves in during the afternoon. WELL, the new church needs a pastor NOW and Sally gets to be their new pastor. This is an excellent opportunity for Sally and her family but as with all changes in life... problems are created; a new church family, a house to sell, day care/preschool issues for the twins, a husband traveling an hour to work each day, packing (yikes),and then selfishly, what about my day with the TWINS? She doesn't have all of the answers right now but tonight she has her first meeting with her new church and a glimpse at her new parsonage, which will be HOME! What's next? A very busy two weeks...I'll keep you posted, as time permits. Willingly, I will help them in any way that I can because this is a great opportunity for Sally and her family, which is a BLESSING indeed! I'm proud of you Sally!

25 Random BLESSINGS

2009-02-08T08:46:00.005-05:00

There is a meme on Face book titled, 25 Random Things. Now that I'm a member of face book, I participated and wanted to share it with you. I found, as I prepared my list that it was a fun time of reflection and soul searching which was very therapeutic. I didn't include the rules here and I don't plan to tag anyone but please feel free to tag yourself. Its time consuming but enjoyable and ended up being a BLESSING to me, as I read the comments left by others on Face book. Thanks for the kind comments from Susie, Tammy, and Sandy who double as my face book friends and blogging buddies, and to them I say, please don't read it again...its exactly the SAME!

1. I enjoy traveling with my hubby and we've been far and wide..Hawaii, Switzerland, Alaska, Paris, Germany, Mexico, and all over the Caribbean, Canada, and continental US! My favorite is the Atlantis on Paradise Island.

2. My dog Elmo, a Labradoodle pound puppy, is a best friend and she's a certified "Therapy Dog".

3. I love-love-love, my flip-flops and wear them year round.

4. My handsome husband, Joe, is the love of my life AND my best friend for 33 years.

5. The most romantic moments with hubby; watching sunsets/sunrises, eating at sidewalk cafes, snuggling around the fire pit, ocean strolls, picnics,dancing at Katherine's wedding, four wheeling, hikes,and when he takes my hand in his and lightly kisses it. It just doesn't get better than that!

6. Our first son, Joe III, died from Hypo-plastic Left Heart Syndrome, 28 years ago and not a day goes by without me remember how precious he was.

7. I'm the worst speeller (oops...speller) that YOU know! Thank you God for spell check.

8. I love reality TV-Bachelor,Biggest Looser, etc.... GO FIGURE!

9. Just one wish? BETTER health.... osteoporosis, arthritis, asthma, allergies, UTI/Kidney infections, sinus infection....got the idea? Hey, remember, I'm an old lady!

10. Daily, I try to improve my relationship with God through prayer and Bible study.

11. Max Lucado is my favorite author and I spend a lot of time reading, mostly nonfiction.

12. Being a Mom to Ben (age 27) and Katherine (age 26) has been my most REWARDING job. They have brought me so much love, joy and happiness, blessing me richly...beyond measure!

13. Favorite indulgence, chocolate-nuts-carmel or Breyers Carmel Crunch ice cream with nuts and carmel on top or in a waffle cone.

14. God has blessed me with an abundance of friends, many for a lifetime but others have entered somewhere along my life's journey; church friends, relatives (even in-laws), teaching friends, face book friends, blogging buddies, students, parents of students, and YOU, for which I'm thankful.

15. My hair is still its natural color, dark brown, even though I'm 56 years old and it continues to get darker every year. I have a few gray sprouts...who cares? Not ME!

16. I'm about as low maintenance as you can get, I can get ready in 5 minutes flat.

17. My two sisters are, and always have been...such dear friends. They add so much laughter, enthusiasm, and unconditional love to my life. I miss you Cheryl and Kathy, could you move to Rutherfordton?

18. In college, I was on a variety of intramural championship teams; volleyball and tennis to name a few.

19. I miss my Dad more than words can express. He has been in heaven for 10 years now and I often thank God for the many things he taught me about life.

20. Gardening is a favorite of mine and I inherited my "Green Thumb" from my dad. When I taught Kindergarten, I tried to pass that trait along to my precious students, by planting a garden each year.

21. The students that I taught over my 32 years of teaching...some diamonds, and some diamonds in the rough... blessed me immensely! The blessings continue as we cross paths today and I will always have a special place in my heart for each DIAMOND!

22. Hold the mayo...YUCK-Its just too thick and mushy!

23. The achievement in life that I'm most proud of is the TLC preschool program that I started at my church. It's still touching the lives of children in a positive way, 24 years later.

24. I weighed 102 pounds the day I married Joe. Those days are gone forever...see #13.

25. My most heartwarming moment...moments...Hearing Ben preach and watching Katherine in the classroom, knowing they are sharing God's unconditional love with others, daily. PRICELESS!

"Nana, Nana"

2009-02-03T11:10:00.003-05:00

This is my handsome hubby with the grandniece twins. Won't he make the best Papa ever? (hint, hint) The twins are 17 months old now and they are more than a double bundle of joy. They share love, hugs, kisses, laughter and joy. BUT nothing melts my heart more than to see them run down the hall from their preschool class, arms reaching upward towards me, huge smiles of delight on their faces, SHOUTING, "Nana, Nana" (baby talk for Nancy)............ PRICELESS! Thankfully, I'm still strong enough to scoop them both up and smother them with kisses! This has to be a touch of heaven on earth and one of my richest BLESSINGS in life! Big changes are on the way for the twins, so check back in a few days for an amazing announcement.

Mimi

2009-01-27T18:33:00.002-05:00

At first glance, you probably think I'm blogging about Elmo again (compare the picture in the previous posts) but I'm writing today to introduce you to my new Grand-dog, Mimi. Mimi belongs to my son Ben and his wife Jenny. They adopted a pound puppy just like my precious labradoodle, Elmo. The new family pet is a little over a year old and so full of energy. Mimi is house trained and has such good manners, indicating she probably had a good family before she ended up in the animal shelter. Ben and Jenny have so much love to share with Mimi and she can provide many learning opportunities to prepare them for parenthood- I hope, I hope, I hope! And that is a BLESSING indeed!

First Dog

2009-01-18T13:52:00.003-05:00

If you are a regular reader, then you are already aware of what a BLESSING Elmo is in my life, just look at that sweet face (Elmo's not mine)... don't you think Elmo looks ROYAL and worthy of the prestigious honor of "First Dog". No, I'm not giving Elmo away for a four year term in the White House or even for a romp in the oval office (after all she is a republican- much too royal for a democratic administration- he he)! BUT... Elmo is a Labradoodle which is one of the top choices for the Obama's "First Dog". A Labradoodle is a mix of Black Lab and Standard Poodle which makes a hypoallergenic, lovable, playful, smart, fluff ball of a pet! Thanks to this Presidential acknowledgement, my free pound puppy is now worth $2000.00! I would never consider selling my Best Friend but when Elmo goes to heaven, I would like to have the opportunity to obtain another Labradoodle. How could I possibly justify paying that much money for a dog? Well, I CAN'T but it makes me appreciate even more the BLESSING of owning this perfect pet. God is good!

Answer to Prayer

2009-01-11T14:17:00.004-05:00

Is there any doubt in your mind, Elmo is one of my richest BLESSINGS in life??????? Just look at that sweet, loving face... PRICELESS! Starting out as a pound puppy and now living a life of luxury in the Carson household. This rags to riches story was an answer to my prayers. I didn't hesitate asking God for guidance in the selection of a family pet. It's a very big decision in any family, full of commitment, compromise and sacrifice. I do believe my prayers were answered. Elmo has been the perfect fit for our family for about 9 years now, providing more love and companionship than I could have ever hoped for. Maybe God has some rich blessings for you... have you asked HIM?

From My Heart

2009-01-06T09:19:00.003-05:00

This is my son Ben after one of his Christmas Eve services. He is currently the associate pastor at a United Methodist Church. He has been at this appointment (his first), for about 6 months and has the opportunity to do the sermon for the two Sunday worship services, approximately once a month. Hubby and I travel (less than 3 hours) to hear him preach as often as we can. I wanted to share with you this letter that I wrote to him, after hearing one of those sermons.

Ben,

An awesome day...an exceptional, Holy Spirit inspired sermon...a gifted, young, happily married pastor, and a mother that feels so unworthy of such rich BLESSINGS from God; words do not exist to adequately describe this mother's heart tonight! Selfishly at times, I want to take some of the credit for your success. I must continually remind myself....... I'm only the hands, used by the Potter, to help mold the clay, according to His plan. All of the glory goes to God. I'm just delighted that He chose me to be a part of it all and that your faith allowed God's will to be done in your life. It just doesn't get better than this...at least not on this side of heaven!

All my love,

Mom

Just Swingin'

2008-12-29T11:43:00.003-05:00

I'm back after a very busy, yet fulfilling Christmas with friends and family. My daughter-in-law took this picture of me swinging, in this gorgeous wooded area near the Guilford College campus, on Christmas Eve. Hubby and I attended Ben's Christmas Eve service and were then treated to a delicious meal at their home, with friends and family.

I hope I never get to old to enjoy swinging in the breeze, surrounded by God's beautiful creation. Taking time to enjoy the moment... a BLESSING indeed!

Now, I'm off to visit all my friends in bloggerville, and catch up on what you've been up to while I was enjoying my Christmas.

Swimming Along

2008-12-17T18:53:00.004-05:00

I just love this photo booth shot of my niece. She had the most fun playing with this neat feature on my new Mac, when she visited during Thanksgiving.

The panicked look on her face reminded me of a video emailed to me by fellow blogger, Julie. I hope you will take the time to view it, especially if you are a grandparent or have small children at home. I taught my kids a similar swimming technique when they were small. They could literally SWIM before they could WALK! Teaching them to swim at an early age was a necessity, due to the fact that our pool is only 15 feet from the back sliding glass doors (very similar to the one in the video). I had already buried one child and took every precaution I could to keep my kids safe. They are never 100% protected but I needed the security of knowing I did everything I possibly could, to protect them. Swimming is still a favorite activity (good exercise too) for both of them, after all of these years, and that is a BLESSING indeed!

Snack TIme

2008-12-13T10:28:00.005-05:00

I got more raisins than you did!

I'm gonna pull this bow out of my hair.

See, I told you!

Sorry!

I'll put it back!

My twin grandnieces are almost 16 months old now and they are two of the BIGGEST BLESSINGS in my life! Priceless!

One Last Gift

2008-12-08T22:02:00.003-05:00

Another treasure was found on Thanksgiving day (see the post below), a Winterberry bush. It was growing on Dad's grape arbor, choking out the grape vines. Had Dad lived to nurture and care for the Winterberry, I'm sure it wouldn't have taken over the grape arbor and the two could have grown together, complimenting each other.

My younger sister from Michigan, taught me about Winterberry. Each year she loved to visit NC in the early fall, just so she could go to the Curb Market and purchase a few dried branches of Winterberry; carefully taking it home for her fall arrangements. I'm sure Dad heard this Winterberry story, year after year and decided to try to grow his own Winterberry. He died unexpectedly and never got the chance to tell my sister that he had planted the Winterberry- just for her! Imagine her delight, when I walked her to this corner of the garden, telling her I thought Dad had planted some Winterberry before he died. The bush, at last, had grown large enough to produce the bright red berries and finally these two siblings noticed it's growth, intertwined with the grape vine. A gift from heaven, that will keep on giving year after year, and that is BLESSING indeed!

Blueberry Blessings

2008-12-01T19:23:00.002-05:00

My Dad was a master gardener. He loved planting a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees, just to see if he could figure out how to make them grow. He would get the biggest grin on his face, and then with delight, he would take you on a tour of the yard to share his latest success. You can imagine my surprise on a recent fall walk, to find these blueberries growing in my Dad's yard. It was almost like Dad stepped down from heaven, grabbed my hand, and guided me to this shrub, that he evidently planted in his final days on earth. I could barely contain my emotions, as I tasted the delicious fruit of this unexpected gift. During Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity, to share this little blessing from heaven, with my sister. A moment to share a gift from heaven, which will provide lasting memories of a devoted Dad, who planted a blueberry bush for his daughters to enjoy- seven years later... now that is a blessing indeed!

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T14:27:00.002-05:00

During this week of Thanksgiving, I wanted to take the time to let each of you know how much I appreciate your friendship, kind comments and prayers. You are a blessing to me, in ways that I never anticipated before I entered the blogging world. I hope you each have a Happy Thanksgiving and that God richly blesses you and your family.

Summer Reminders

2008-11-20T10:34:00.003-05:00

In my neck of the woods, the daily high temperature, is usually in the low 60's for this time of the year. We have had many frosts and a couple of hard freezes... but on Tuesday the temperature didn't get out of the 30's ALL day. That rarely happens here, even in the deep dark days of winter. So, you can imagine my surprise, when I returned from my daily walk to find these beautiful roses still blooming. Of course, I had to cut them for this bouquet because their hours were numbered... outside in that freezing COLD weather.

I'm just starting to feel better after a sinus infection, so it was such a blessing to find this little gift from God. A gentle reminder that He is always there for us, especially in the darkest, coldest moments of our lives.

A Day in the Life

2008-11-15T09:51:00.008-05:00

So, what are the twin Grandnieces up to these days?

... playing with my baby doll's eyes

... dancing with our giggle stick.

... talking on our cell phones.

... loving my baby doll.

.... trying out my baby doll's bottle.

... and playing dress up!

They are 14.5 months old, full of energy, and a blessing indeed!

Rainbow Reminders

2008-11-11T10:41:00.002-05:00

This rainbow appeared outside my home, after a thunderstorm, a few months ago. It was a gorgeous reminder of God's promise to us. I needed that reminder today. I've had a cold with a sore throat and headache for a few days now and I just can't seem to shake it! It's often hard to wait patiently for the rainbow to arrive, when your in the midst of a storm. I'm waiting patiently for this yucky cold to pass, knowing that there is a rainbow waiting for me, and that is a blessing indeed! Please... HURRY God!

Fall Blessings

2008-11-04T11:12:00.002-05:00

We are experiencing our "peak" of fall colors this week in the North Carolina foothills. This Japanese Maple has always been a favorite of mine but during the fall it really shows it's true colors. It's almost breathtaking to return home, after my daily walk, and witness this handiwork of our creative God. Breathtaking blessings, that last such a short time... but a gentle reminder that God is in charge, with His very own timetable, for our lives and His beautiful creations.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T16:11:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween to each of you... I hope you are able to enjoy the weekend and put to good use your extra hour of time, as we "Fall Back"! You are each a blessing to me and I appreciate your visits here.

Hair Color

2008-10-26T19:49:00.003-05:00

Me (on the left), my blond niece that's in the 8th grade, and my niece that is a high school senior with red hair.

Are you a blond, brunette, or red head? Are you a combination of the three, or the color you chose with your stylist during your last visit to the beauty salon? Well... these three beauties have what I call, "God given hair"! We all have the color of hair that we were born with. While visiting with my nieces in Michigan, I realized they both have the "perfect" hair color. Perfect because many women pay big bucks to get their color of hair. I expressed that thought to my nieces, and told them what a BLESSING it was to have such a beautiful, unique, color of hair. It's just hard to believe WE are blood relatives, with such a variety of hair colors . But it's true!

Now about the other beauty (he,he), the brunette... I started out as a blond (both of my children did too) but at the age of 7 or 8, my hair started getting darker and that trend has continued to this day (the same way for both my children)! I've always been happy with that God given color. However, that may change as more gray starts to creep in...???

Teaching Award

2008-10-22T18:36:00.006-05:00

Today, handsome hubby and I, traveled to Winston-Salem to watch our daughter receive a teaching award!

She was nominated by students and parents in her classroom and was then selected from all of the teachers nominated, as the Teacher of the Year, for her area.

It's a dark photo, but she's receiving a thousand dollar award for her school and a hundred dollar award, for her classroom.

This is her fourth year of teaching kindergarten and we are so happy that she was selected for this honor. The company sponsoring the award is a nationally known "Super-center" and they select the winners from the teachers that are nominated. Teachers often have a thankless job, so this is such a blessing to have her hard work and dedication rewarded. Go Girl... we are so proud of you baby daughter!

FINALLY!

2008-10-17T18:57:00.003-05:00

This is my blogging friend Dawn from Colorado!

(me on the left and Dawn on the right)

I finally got to meet a fellow blogger and what a BLESSING it was for me! I think we've blogged together since I began blogging several years ago. She was in NC this week visiting relatives but I was in Michigan visiting relatives, fortunately, she was able to stay long enough for us to have a delightful lunch together... TODAY (thanks DC it was delicious)! You would think we had known each other forever and the conversation flowed effortlessly for over an hour. Unfortunately for me, she had to be in Georgia by 5:00, or we could have talked endlessly for hours. Dawn has been a prayer partner, a blessing and an inspiration to me and I consider her a very dear friend. Thanks Dawn for making the extra effort to make this day possible, you are a BLESSING indeed!

Lucky ME!

2008-10-13T11:18:00.007-05:00

Lucky ME, I'm visiting my little sister in Michigan this week, while handsome hubby is on an elk hunting trip in Colorada! The White family welcomed me with open arms at the front door of their gorgeous home.

While they are at work or school each day, I have the mansion to myself! A nice "little" retreat for rest and relaxation, with a huge backyard full of fall foliage, colorful flowers, and the sound of a real waterfall trickling, in one corner of the yard.

The weather is cool and crisp with beautiful fall colors and there is an abundance of fall creations, in my sister's yard to enjoy. She loves her yard and flower gardens as much as I do (we got that from our Dad)!

So... its just ME and Scooter (the family pet), enjoying these precious moments in Michigan and that is a BLESSING indeed!

GO CATS GO!

2008-10-06T21:12:00.002-05:00

Our grandmother was a Western Carolina University cheerleader... a few years ago (????) and she has us in training for the 2025 cheerleading squad. Our grandmother met our grandfather right here on this very campus and now he's a very big man on campus, with a very important job... some kind of vice chancellor or something. We think his official title is Mr. Catamount. Our Auntie Nancy went to college here too and met her handsome hubby at WCU. Our other Auntie in Michigan, met her Army General hubby right here, while she was a cheerleader for the catamounts. Our mom grew up here and decided to venture out, going to Meredith College and then on to Duke University for seminary but... her heart was always right here in catamount country. AND last but not least... our daddy went to school here and he's currently working on his masters at WCU. Now, you can see clearly; why this is such a special University to us, why we are sitting in the end zone during the 2008 homecoming game and why we are so adorably dressed in the purple and gold cheerleading outfits! What a blessing it is to be in CULLOWHEE, NC! GO CATS!

Look OUT!

2008-09-30T10:10:00.006-05:00

Close all of the doors and hide the dog!

Cover all of the outlets!

Put all valuables/breakables in a safe place!

The grand nieces are WALKING... and that is a rich blessing indeed!

Notice the bruises on the forehead (walking practice), the drool on the adorable brown top (teething)- this is the precious life of twins at 13 months old!

Princess Tutu

2008-09-24T20:17:00.003-05:00

This precious angel is a grand of one of best friends in the whole world. Sherry has stood beside me through thick and thin and I've tried to do the same for 33 years. Her daughter Erin, ended up going to the same university where I graduated and pledged my sorority... making us sorority sister. I feel like I helped raise Erin because I spent so much time with her during her growing up years. She later babysat for my kids, coached them on swim team, and was a perfect role model. This Princess Tutu is Erin's precious daughter. I share all of this to let you know about Erin's latest business venture. I'm so proud of her. She makes and sells these tutu's. How creative is that? Every little princess loves to play dress up, and these are the perfect solution. If you have time, check out her web page here. She also has another precious princess and they look just like Erin did when she was their age. It really brings back a lot of great memories and that is a BLESSING indeed!

It's A Keeper!

2008-09-22T18:53:00.002-05:00

I love it! My mac is the best toy ever! I'm having so much fun learning all of the possibilities. Blogger is completely different too... so it's taking awhile to find my way around. I can spell check when I leave comments now- WOW- I really needed that! (Eat your heart out Tom!) It takes me extra time to go through the steps to change the words but... I'm so excited with all of the possibilities. I haven't loaded my camera or tried iphoto yet... one step at a time. One thing's for sure- this is a BLESSING indeed!

Rewiring My Brain

2008-09-18T11:28:00.002-05:00

Could it be that "I bit off more than I can chew"? I hope not. Learning the ins and outs of my new computer is a challenge but I've always loved a good challenge. It is taking longer than I had hoped but it will be worth it when I no longer have to worry about a virus, or loosing my favorites. Throw in a UTI, hives for a week, and another basal cell carcinoma- which they didn't get all of the first time around (on my back, not my face this time, which is a blessing indeed)... I think I'm making excellent progress. Thanks for your patience... I haven't had the time to visit all of my favorite blogs or do update posts. You have been a blessing to me, as I try to sort through all of this and I appreciate all of your positive comments and encouragement.

It's Here!

2008-09-12T16:58:00.002-05:00

It's here and I'm so excited! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning and I can't wait to play... this is such a blessing to me! Now let's see how easy it is to set up... I'll let you know. Have a great weekend.

This to Shall Pass

2008-09-06T20:09:00.002-05:00

My laptop now needs a new battery... remember I live in a very rural area so the only solution to this problem is to order on line- I hope to get this done, if I can keep my computer charged long enough to accomplish this. AND the power cord has issues as well, it will not stay attached. According to the "TECH" guy, his is a very common problem with my hp laptop (he said I needed it sautered (sp?) on... so much for wireless)! SO.... the BLESSING in all of this- I have a mac on the way and since I live in a very rural area, this may take awhile. BUT it's on the way and this problem is getting ready to be solved. I'm so excited... I can't wait! Thank you for your patience with me. I will visit as soon as I can... please don't forget about me. You are all a blessing to me.

August 23, 2008

2008-08-23T09:55:00.008-05:00

(9-4-08... My laptop is still in the shop. I hope to get it tomorrow but until then please know that I shall return. I'm sorry that I'm unable to visit your blog but I will catch up as soon as I can. I'm keeping the twins today so I'm using their mom's computer while they are napping... which isn't long enough to do a post or visit any of you. Blessings to all!)

(Side Note, 8-24-08 : I may have to take a blogging break to get my laptop fixed. If I'm MIA for awhile, know that the problems were more than my little brain could fix and I shall return ASAP.)

Happy Birthday Ella and Mattie!

What a difference a year makes!

Abundant Blessings!

The best Grand Nieces in the world!

Butterfly Blessings

2008-08-18T19:09:00.003-05:00

Looks are often deceiving- this looks like the perfect photo opportunity ... a beautiful butterfly sipping the nectar from deep inside a fuchsia pink Mandevilla bloom. Instead it's a dead butterfly, stuck inside the bloom! So stuck, that when the bloom dies several days later and falls from the vine; the dead butterfly remains firmly trapped inside the bloom. A perfect specimen of the ill fated butterfly, ends up on the ground long after the pink color fades from the flower. The bloom decomposes into the surrounding dirt and the butterfly still retains its original beauty. You are probably thinking, what a blessing for me to witness God's creative handy work in such a unique way... and I AGREE! However, it's a double blessing because the very same thing happened to another butterfly just a few days before this and I didn't get a picture of it. So what happened to the butterfly... did it get stuck and die? Did it suffocate? Was it just time for it to die and it happened to be in the flower when death knocked at it's door? Was their a spider hiding inside, waiting on it's prey and slowly sucked the life out of the butterfly? I have no idea but it reinforces a concept my Dad taught me... "keep your eyes peeled" or you may miss the magnitude of God's perfect plan for every living creature and that is a BLESSING indeed!

Big Toys

2008-08-14T18:04:00.005-05:00

The bigger the kid... the bigger the toys! This is handsome hubby on one of his toys... and he has lots of these big toys, with different names (names I don't even know), all designed for a different task. He's the happiest man, in on the land, when he is playing on his big toys. Don't even think this is work and feel sorry for him! :) He's preparing this road (mud) for pavement, in a new housing development (gorgeous property), which is one of his business investments... but he is loving every minute on this big toy. How do you separate business from pleasure when you are passionate about your work? Loving what you do, and doing what you love is a BLESSING indeed and the man with the most BIG toys when you die- is the WINNER! It looks like we may have a winner here.

Vacation Bible School

2008-08-10T17:28:00.004-05:00

Flamay, the flamingo puppet was a huge success during our Vacation Bible School. My arm got a great workout during the week... singing, dancing, acting and staying up in the air, covered in pink fur, while doing all of those antics. Of course, it was a BLESSING in so many ways, just look at the next picture!

The smiles on the children's precious faces, tell the rest of the story! That's Flamay (aka ME) in the middle. Who could resist a week filled with hugs like that?

Slacker Stacker

2008-08-04T12:32:00.003-05:00

Okay, I admit it, I'm a "slacker stacker"! And what's that, you may ask? It's a person (like me) that puts paperwork into stacks, upon stacks, upon more stacks, as an organizational tool. My term ("slacker stacker") resurfaced in the comment section of my previous post, as I thought about Ben's immaculate desk. I used this phrase more often when I taught Kindergarten because out of necessity and time, I would make stacks of current folders, in various places around the classroom so they would be "readily reachable" (like current finger plays, seasonal art, current events, current lessons, office memos, schedules, etc... ) Now my stacks are "readily reachable" and visible so that I will not forget them (old age). There is a method to this "slacker stacker"madness and that is a BLESSING. There's a stack for mail that needs attention, one for bills, one for currently going on activities, one for a notebook to write down messages, one for a smaller notebook to write down things that need to be googled, one for receipts that need to be dealt with immediately, and each stack is turned in a different visible direction. Of course, new stacks can be added at anytime, as long as they are turned in another direction (neatly). I do have files but once they go in the file folder and to the file cabinet they are out of sight- out of mind and no longer need attention. Well, this "slacker stacker" confession makes me feel much better (thanks for listening- I mean reading)... and that is another BLESSING for this day! Now, I'm off to take care of my "slacker stacker" stack of bills.

Burning Bushes

2008-07-29T17:19:00.003-05:00

Have you seen any burning bushes lately? That was Ben's sermon topic for his first sermon, at his new church in Greensboro and it was a huge success. The scripture was from Exodus 3:1-12 , and he talked about his personal call to the ministry along with Moses' call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. No burning bushes for Ben, but he did answer God's call with, "Hear I am, Lord"! And that is a BLESSING indeed for this proud MOM!

We got a grand tour of the church after the service and this is a picture of Ben's new office. I wonder how long his desk will stay that clean... not long if he's anything like his mom. I look forward to many more sermons, as God continues to bless Ben's life richly.

Old Foots

2008-07-26T12:52:00.005-05:00

My dad at times would call my mom, "Old Foots"! I'm glad I asked him before he died , "where did that come from?" ... or I would never know the answer to that question. It seems when the grands were small he would say to them , "us OLD FOLKS need to go to bed, come on Old Folks" ... speaking to my mom. As you can see, that easily got changed to "Old Foots", by the grandchildren and for some reason it just ... STUCK. He called her "Old Foots" until the day he died. This picture that I took while caring for the twins, reminded me of "Old Foots". It's my foot and it is old (Cha-Ching cherry nail polish by the way), especially when compared to the tiny, precious, pinkies of my niece. I had Mattie in the bouncy seat that day, while I gave Ella her bottle. Mattie would push on my foot which made the bouncy seat BOUNCE! This entertained Mattie while she waited patiently for her turn to be fed. (Just one of the many"tricks of the trade" that I learned while caring for the twins.) Old Foots (my mom) is really feeling old these days. She has 24 hour care, there isn't much communication, she rarely smiles or shows any emotion. She knows who I am but little else... so you can imagine my reaction the other day when I said, "come on Old Foots let's go eat"- and she LAUGHED. It was a laugh I haven't heard in a long time, one that caused her entire face to light up and even put a slight sparkle back into her eyes. It was a blessing to see "Old Foots" back again... even for a moment! God is good!

VBS

2008-07-22T17:10:00.004-05:00

It's Vacation Bible School time and our theme this year is Surfing Through the Scriptures. I'm the Assembly Leader and we're doing a beach scene skit each night. I will be the voice for Flamay, a Flamingo puppet. Flamay is self- centered and egotistical and during VBS week, she changes her life by learning to; Be Obedient, Be Kind, Be Forgiving, Be Bold, and Believing. Having a great Be- Attitude in life is so important for all of us and I look forward to sharing these things, August 3rd - 7th, with the children in our Church and community. Surfing Through the Scriptures can be a BLESSING for all of us, even if we don't have the opportunity to attend Vacation Bible School. I need a daily dose, how about you?

Grand Indeed

2008-07-18T11:51:00.005-05:00

Meet Boone, my very first Grand-Dog! His parents are my daughter and SIL that live in Winston-Salem. They met and fell in love during their college years, which just happened to be in the town of Boone, NC... thus the name BOONE! Boone is a red bone hound which in my neck of the woods would be a coon dog. Just look at that sweet face, he's not as GRAND as a grand kid but this is a great start... and that is a BLESSING INDEED!

The Potter's Hand

2008-07-14T21:04:00.004-05:00

I love to read! This is the most recent book that has mesmerized me and monopolized my spare time. It is an autobiography written by Pastor/Evangelist Greg Laurie. I often listen to his messages on the local Christian radio station, as I travel the weekly 2 hour trip to my moms each Monday. He is a very practical and thought provoking pastor, that lived a very dysfunctional life until he was 17 years old. It's amazing to read about his life and see the stepping stones that God put in his path to prepare him for the ministry. As I read this book, I've pondered the stepping stones placed in my son's life, preparing him for the ministry. I can see... The Potter, molding Ben's life from the very beginning, with individuals and experiences that helped shape him into the minister he is today. The BLESSING in all of this- God isn't finished with him yet and I delight in watching the molding process first hand, not just now but from the very beginning. It has been my honor to hold one hand while God held the other, as Ben took a step from one stepping stone to the other. The books can be found here along with information about Greg's life and ministry. Maybe it can be a BLESSING to you, as it has been to me.

First Home

2008-07-08T11:07:00.003-05:00

My son and DIL have started their ministry together with a new home in Greensboro, NC and a new position as a minister, for a United Methodist Church near Guilford College. A fresh start, a new beginning, with their lives ahead of them... they are as excited as a small child waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve! I too, am excited with all of the possibilities and my heart is bursting with pride. I look forward to July 26th... the day I get to hear him PREACH! It has been such a BLESSING for me, witnessing the Christian growth, dedication and devotion that got them to this point. I look forward to watching them plant the seeds. The seeds that will grow in the lives of all the individuals that they minister to. Oh, the possibilities...

Happy Birthday

2008-07-01T21:28:00.003-05:00

It's my birthday on July 3rd and I will be 56! My niece from Michigan is visiting and she will be 13 on July 6th... a BLESSING indeed!

Identical Twins

2008-06-25T11:45:00.003-05:00

They look identical, they do identical things, they even fool their closest relatives sometimes.... but I know from my advanced biology classes and more importantly... from the Bible that no two individuals are completely, 100% identical. God has made each of us uniquely and perfect in His eyes, which is a BLESSING indeed! They are 10 months old now, a blessing to my life, and as close to heaven as you can get here on earth! Identical??? Sometimes our eyes can't tell the difference, so we always put Ella on the left and Mattie on the right!

Family Beach Trip

2008-06-20T10:32:00.003-05:00

We are home from the beach and it was a fantastic trip. (Some are still there until Saturday.) Everyone made it except my mom and one niece that has a summer job. The three to the left are my younger sister with her husband and daughter, they live in Michigan and their oldest daughter couldn't make it. My handsome hubby is seated holding one of the grand nieces, our daughter is in pink and her husband has the cap on, I'm in the middle wearing green and our son is to the far right in black with his wife in white. My oldest sister lives in Cullowhee and is to the right in the picture, wearing white and her husband is behind her wearing blue, their daughter is holding the other grand niece and her husband is sitting on the arm of the chair that my husband is sitting in.

What a BLESSING to spend time with a family that doubles as your very best friends!

My Kids

2008-06-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

My Kids

Katherine just finished her third year of teaching kindergarten and in July she will have been happily married for one year. She lives in the Winston-Salem, NC area about 2 hours away.

Ben just received his first appointment with the United Methodist Church and will be headed to the Greensboro, NC area, with his beautiful bride of two year, as an associate pastor. They have just purchased their first home and will be about 30 minutes from Katherine.

Hubby (yes... he's still a kid too) will be celebrating 33 years of marriage to me on June 14th. We will be celebrating at Holden Beach all of next week... with both of my sisters, their spouses, their kids/spouses, my kids/spouses, and my twin great nieces. What a BLESSING... I can't wait!

Sundown

2008-06-08T18:57:00.005-05:00

... and the sun goes down on our trip to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons.

Sunsets create a connection with my Creator like nothing else can and that is a BLESSING indeed!

Gaperguide

2008-06-04T19:34:00.002-05:00

This device was our tour guide through Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It is just the best invention ever. It is a GPS box called a GAPERGUIDE, it plugs into your cigarette lighter and automatically tells you what's coming up next on your trip, along with some interesting information about the site. It really was a highlight of our trip and well worth the $35 that it cost to rent it. I wish this had been invented when my kids were small... believe me when grands come along- we will rent the Gaperguide again! I found out about it from an online search before we ever made our trip and that... was a BLESSING indeed!

Snow Capped Beauty

2008-06-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Gorgeous snow capped peaks were everywhere on our trip. The average temperature was a perfect 70 degrees each day but there were constant reminders of a snowy winter wonderland! ... the Grand Tetons behind the airport

... mountain peaks entering Yellowstone at the south entrance

... the Grand Tetons behind our resort, The Snake River Lodge

... the ski slopes in downtown Jackson Hole

... and the Grand Tetons as we traveled to Yellowstone. The magnificance of God's creation is a blessing indeed!

WILD Wildlife

2008-05-29T18:36:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about our trip to Yellowstone National Park, was the abundance of wildlife. This herd of bighorn sheep was so close that I jumped into the car after I took this shot. His eyes were locked on me and as soon as I moved ... he moved and the entire herd stampeded toward me running past the car and crossing the road, as I watched safely inside the rental car. I treasured each encounter and considered it a BLESSING to witness God's critters in their natural habitat.

Remarkable

2008-05-25T20:31:00.002-05:00

Our trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming was remarkable and a BLESSING indeed!

(More pictures and information in the days to come... thanks for being patient with me until I can stop by and visit each of you!)

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

2008-05-14T12:02:00.003-05:00

It's travel time for me and my handsome hubby. He is one of the hardest working individuals in the whole world and needs to get away every now and then... just to relax. We were voluntarily bumped on a previous flight and received 2 free tickets, so we decided to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Having never seen the Grand Tetons or Yellowstone National Park, this was the perfect destination. Just the two of us... touring, hiking, relaxing, and enjoying God's beautiful creation. Now that is a BLESSING indeed!

Picture Fun

2008-05-08T00:15:00.000-05:00

What's just about as much fun as playing with the twins? Playing at this fun website with the pictures that I take of the twins. It's free, it's easy enough for me to navigate, and you can play too... TRY IT! Now that is a BLESSING indeed.

Happy Mother's Day!

Operation Inasmuch (part 4)

2008-05-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

My "Operation Inasmuch" day was spent in three very different directions. I was the leader of the child care team taking care of the "two and under" children of the other workers. This lasted during the morning hours, then I took pictures for the media team, and last but not least... I visited several rest homes with my precious "Therapy Dog", ELMO! Elmo showed off her talents; sit, stand, dance, speak, catch and fetch- to the delight of all of the residents. She also visited each one pausing only if they continued to pet her. She even had her very on "Operation Inasmuch" t-shirt which made her feel like the special dog that she is. Elmo was a BLESSING to each person she met that day and continues to bless my life immensely.

Operation Inasmuch (part 3)

2008-05-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Handsome hubby was team leader for a crew that gutted and rebuilt a bathroom. The lady had to brush her teeth in the kitchen sink and the floor was caving in. The plumping had to be redone, the floor replaced and jacked up, and the sheet rock replaced.

After the project was complete, the lady gave my husband a hug and said that she felt like a "Queen for the Day". The "Operation Inasmuch" crew had blessed her life and shown her the true meaning of "love thy neighbor"! May the seeds planted that day, continue to bless her life.

Operation Inasmuch (Part 2)

2008-04-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

203 participants in "Operation Inasmuch" from our Church alone... what a huge success this one day missions project was and a BLESSING for each person involved! Here is a glimpse at some of the projects our Church completed:

two wheelchair ramps

a complete roofing project

three yards cleaned

one cemetery cleaned

a bathroom gutted and redone- including a new floor

road side trash pickup

two parks cleaned

meals for all fireman and policeman

visits and meals for all shut-ins

visits and treat bags for all of the county rest homes

hospice project

homeless shelter project

free medical clinic project

women's shelter project

Looking ahead to future posts; my project, my husbands project, and a few more pictures of "Operation Inasmuch".

Operation Inasmuch

2008-04-25T12:01:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow our Church will participate in "Operation Inasmuch", a one day, county wide, mission event to promote the importance of what Jesus said in Matthew 25:40- "For inasmuch as you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for ME!" Our T-shirts are ready, many projects are planned, and hundreds of people will meet at 8:00 tomorrow morning to give back to our community. This awareness will hopefully become a part of our daily lives, as we seek to make a difference... one person at a time- and that will be a BLESSING indeed!

Shelling at Holden Beach

2008-04-21T20:41:00.000-05:00

Holden Beach, NC is a gorgeous family beach. We have had the opportunity to go with my sisters, and their families for many years (it takes a big house now that our kids are getting married and having kids of their own). It's a great place to find shells and it's one of our favorite things to do. This year, on our Easter trip, we found all of these shells and I found this neat container (at Michael's), to display them. The shells also have a purpose. We collect them for my son and niece (both pastors), to use for the baptisms in their churches. They are the perfect size to hold just enough water (remember we are Methodist and we use just a little water), and then the person being baptized keeps the shell as a reminder of their Baptism day. I'm already excited about our June trip, anticipating beautiful shelling days with my family. The beach, family, and shelling... BLESSINGS indeed!

Terrific Thursdays

2008-04-11T10:22:00.011-05:00

My Thursdays are spent, 30 minutes away from home, with my twin great nieces. This has been my way of "giving back" to a very special niece and at the same time...giving "ME" one of the biggest BLESSINGS of my life. Doing this keeps these precious, premature twins, out of day care and allows me the opportunity to delight in their development and milestones. The days are long, hard and usually hectic, but the BLESSINGS are too many to count. They are almost 8 months old (6 months old/adjusted age) and weigh 15+ pounds.

A BLESSING INDEED!

My BUSY List

2008-04-07T19:53:00.001-05:00

WOW! I feel like I have been on a roller coaster for the last several weeks. I appreciate that you have stopped by to check on me and I hope to get to your blogs and catch up this week! Here is a list of a few of my many blessings during the last several weeks.

My Twin Great Nieces

A business trip to Charleston with my hubby

My Twin Great Nieces

A week of job interviews for my son Ben

My Twin Great Nieces

A trip to Holden Beach with my sisters and their families

My Twin Great Nieces

A spring break visit from my daughter Katherine

My Twin Great Nieces

(At this point last night, I had all of my pictures lined up ready to post- showing you beautiful beach scenes ,the market in Charleston, family group shots, beautiful sunsets, the twins in my lap, the twins on a stroller ride, etc... Then I tried to upload my pictures!!!!! My pictures are gone :( I will try to figure this out, but for now it looks like they are gone forever. I think there is a save button that I should have clicked on, in my Adobe Photoshop. I have worked with Adobe many times over the last several months but for some reason- last night... I did something wrong. There is a BLESSING in all of this... I have learned a valuable lesson!!!!!!!!)

YEP! They are gone forever!!!!!!

I give up.

Happy Easter

2008-03-22T07:54:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter

to all!

(Things have been very busy lately- a fun busy! I will get back to blogging in a week or so. Thank you for stopping by to check on me!)

Black and White #3

2008-03-10T21:00:00.000-05:00

(This is part three of a reflection on my friendship with Nita, a former student of mine, a former teaching assistant of mine (over 20 years), and a dear friend.)

Our Dads

They couldn't have been more alike if they had been identical twins, except for one fact- one was white and one was black! They never met but would have been instant friends because they had so much in common. They both loved their families dearly, especially their daughters (us) and both lives ended too soon, much sooner than their daughters were ready to live life without them; so we helped each other grieve and learn to live in a fatherless world. School was top priority for these two dads and if you ever got in trouble at school- you were in bigger trouble when you got home. You didn't cry needlessly or they would give you something to cry about! For some reason (Nita and I could never figure this one out), nothing good ever came out of South Carolina...??? Integrety was a character trait at the top of their list, and all of the kids in the family would get a "switching", unless the guilty party would "fess" up. Both dads loved to fish, garden, and spend time outdoors- but most of all they LOVED their daughters... and that is a blessing indeed!

Mexico Fun

2008-03-03T15:07:00.006-05:00

Mexico was just beautiful and the Mayan Riviera was gorgeous. We were blessed to have our son Ben and his wife Jenny with us. They helped us feel young and found all of the best places to eat. The food was delicious, the weather was warm, the people were friendly, and we arrived home safely, which is a blessing indeed!

Mayan Riviera

2008-02-23T16:33:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again. (See last years post, at this time, when we earned a trip to Florida.) Each year, around this time, Hubby and I take a trip with the company he works for. Trips are earned according to the dollar value of the homes he built, for that year. We are blessed this year to be able to take 4 other employees, as well as, our son Ben (the preacher man) and his wife Jenny.

The Moon Place Resort, along the Mayan Rivera in Mexico, will be our destination this year. I hope to bring back lots of photos, precious memories, and a rested body! I will not be blogging for at least a week but I do plan to get back to the Black and White posts, as soon as possible. Blessings to you all! Please pray for safe travels.

Black and White #2

2008-02-15T22:04:00.002-05:00

(This is post #2 about my friendship with Nita (not her real name), a former student that ended up being my Kindergarten assistant for 20 years. Please see the previous 2 posts for more on this interesting friendship. This photo is a "borrowed" picture ,which doesn't accurately depict the two of us, because I am 10 years older than Nita, however it does show the love that two individuals can share- regardless of the color of their skin.) Nita attended an all black school when she started to school. She was delighted when desegragation became law because her new teachers were more gentle and kind than the teachers from the all black school. She vividly remembers stern teachers that administered corporal punishment liberally. There was fear and intimidation which wasn't an ideal environment for learning. Nita was excited, as well as enthusiastic, about attending a new school and wasn't disappointed. She loved school, did her very best at each task, and was successful. As a student in my classroom, she was always talking and of course that led to being called down- many times- but the talking never interefered with her ability to get her work done. Actually, this ability to communicate with others- is one of her strongest qualities to this day. She has never met a stranger and that is a blessing indeed! (Post #3 will come soon, as time permits , so please come back for more about this unique friend of mine.)

Black and White

2008-02-12T21:23:00.002-05:00

Having a black teaching assistant for over 20 years (see my previous post), enriched my knowledge and appreciation for the African American culture. I am a better person for having spent all of these years with such an extraordinary friend.

Experiencing this beautiful world that God created is a colorful journey for me. But growing up... I drank from a different water fountain than black children and used a different bathroom from black children. I never touched a black child, sat by a black child, or even talked to a black child... until I was a freshman in high school. Even then, there were less than 10 black children in my entire high school, so my exposure was limited. That was the color of my world until 1966. I thank God that things changed or I would never have experienced the colorful world that was opened to me, through the eyes of my dear black friend. I don't see things in black and white... and that is a blessing indeed!

(I plan to create several posts about the extraordinary experiences of working with this dear black lady, so please come back for more in the days to come. I felt this was an appropriate way to honor her birthday which was on February 6th and to celebrate Black History Month.)

Friends Forever

2008-02-03T17:46:00.000-05:00

This is me, chatting with a dear friend, at Katherine's wedding this past summer. I met her 34 years ago. It was my second year of teaching and she was a dedicated student in my class. Many years later, she became my classroom assistant. For more than 20 years, she worked faithfully by my side bringing so much love, laughter and joy into our classroom. We were a team, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children. Now that I am retired, she remains in the classroom but no longer as an assistant- she is a student teacher and will complete the requirements for her teaching certification this spring. I proudly watched her every step of the way, encouraging her, knowing all along that she would make an excellent teacher. I am blessed to have her for a friend and to witness first hand, her dream come true.

Flip-Flops

2008-01-25T11:20:00.000-05:00

These are absolutely the best flip-flops in the entire world. I got my first pair about 8 years ago. My daughter was on the high school swim team, with an exchange student from Brazil, and she fell in love with the exchange student's flip-flops. When the exchange student left America- she gave Katherine her flip-flops! They were made of the softest rubber (like my very first pair, at the age of 6) and immediately I knew- I have to have my own pair. I googled the name that I found on the flip-flop's from Brazil, and the rest is history. Unbelievably, they only cost seven dollars at the time. I'm sure they are more expensive now, especially since Oprah did a show about them last year but they are well worth the money. I have visions of warm weather ahead and I can't wait to wear my Brazilian flip-flops again... that will be a blessing indeed! Interested? Find out all about them here.

I Tried Again

2008-01-22T10:42:00.000-05:00

This gorgeous couple, happens to be my daughter Katherine and son Ben. They wouldn't be in my life today, had I not- "tried again", after the death of my first son Joe. They didn't replace my first born child, but they helped numb the pain. Two of life's biggest blessings for me, because I "tried again".

A Different Child

A different child,

People notice

There's a special glow around you,

You grow

Surrounded by love,

Never doubting you are wanted;

Only look at the pride and joy

In your mother and father's eyes.

And if sometimes

Between the smiles

There's a trace of tears,

One day

You'll understand.

You'll understand

There was once a different child

Who was in their hopes and dreams.

That child will never outgrow the baby clothes

That child will never keep them up at night

In fact, that child will never be of any trouble at all

Except sometimes, in a silent moment,

When mother and father miss so much

That different child.

May hope and love wrap you warmly

And may you learn the lesson forever

How infinitely precious

How infinitely fragile

Is this life on Earth.

One day, as a young man or woman

You may see another mother's tears

Another father's silent grief

Then you, and you alone

Will understand

And offer the greatest comfort.

When all hope seems lost,

You will tell them

With great compassion,

"I know how you feel.I am only here because my mother tried again."

Author Unknown

Snow Day

2008-01-17T15:33:00.000-05:00

Finally, we have a snow day in North Carolina! There is only 3 inches of the fluffy white stuff but even 3 inches in this neck of the woods, happens to be a reason to celebrate... and we did. Sleep late, cook a big breakfast, play in the snow, and enjoy this day for what it is- God's way of saying... "slow down and enjoy the magnificent beauty that only I can create"! AND that is a blessing indeed.

Twinless Twin

2008-01-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

My friends ( Emily's mom, Emily's twin sister, Emily's dad, and family pet Charlie) continue to face the struggle of a life without their precious Emily. My heart still aches for them and they really need your prayers. College life at Clemson continues for Emily's twin sister (my goddaughter) and she is doing the best she can, to move forward with her life. Months before Emily died in the Ocean Isle Beach house fire, she wrote a letter to her twin sister, expressing how much it meant to her, to have a twin sister. This letter was read at Emily's Memorial Service and I wanted to share a portion of it with you today, giving you a glimpse into the life of my precious goddaughter. She was such a blessing to me and one way to keep her memory alive is to share some of her short life with you.

"Unfortunately, many girls are not blessed with a best friend they can trust through thick and thin. My twin sister is, and always will be, there for me. She is my confidant, my best friend, my support system, she is my everything. But most of all, she's just my silly twin sister that I would not change for the world."

~Emily

(To review my previous posts about Emily, you can get more information from: October29th, November 3rd,7th, and 12th.)

Double the Pleasure

2008-01-04T16:50:00.000-05:00

Each Thursday, I have the privilege of keeping these precious twins (my great nieces) all day long... all by myself. They are such a blessing to me and I consider it an honor to be a part of their early childhood development. They have come a long way; born at 29 weeks gestation, spent 43 days in the NICU, a starting weight of 2.6 and 3.2 pounds, and now they are 4.5 months old, weighing 11 and 12 pounds. Aren't they just the cutest babies in the world? Now that is a blessing indeed!

Elmo's Jealous

2008-01-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

It is usually just me, Elmo, and Joe around the house, so during Christmas... Elmo seemed jealous! She didn't like others getting my attention and she didn't like others taking up her space. In the picture, you can see that she jumped right up on the couch and made room for herself- between Ben and Katherine. She would even take her nose and nudge them over. If they were in the car with us, she would chase the car and try to follow us to our destination. We had to stop, scold her, and send her home. This really amazed me, as I watched this slowly evolve during Christmas week. Was she really jealous... or was she trying to develop a loving relationship with everyone else that was visiting? Either way- it was interesting to observe her. She is my best friend and has been a blessing to me for 7 years now. Each day with her is one to be treasured and I am a better person because she is in my life. Today, Elmo is one happy dog! She has me and the whole house, all to herself. Now, that is a grand way to start the NEW YEAR... life is good!

Christmas at the Carson House

2007-12-27T11:28:00.000-05:00

Elmo (the best dog in the whole world) was the first to check out her stocking on Christmas morning- with a little help from my handsome hubby. Christmas at our house was full of laughter and love. Ben, Katherine and their spouses celebrated at our house and that was the best Christmas gift of all. Christmas blessings to each of you- as you continue to enjoy the Christmas season. You have blessed me this year with your comments and blogging friendship.

Graduation Blessings

2007-12-17T10:05:00.001-05:00

(This is reason number 2, explaining the added business of my holiday season. See the previous post about Katherine's move into her first home with her husband)

This handsome, ( long haired- says mom), young man, is my precious son, Ben. He stands on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary, in Wilmore, Kentucky- where he has spent the last several years working diligently to obtain his Masters of Divinity degree. On this cold gloomy day, HE GRADUATED- bringing bright sunshine to an otherwise cloudy damp day. Proud is a word that I spoke often that day, but it is really an inadequate description because it goes deeper than that. It is a spiritual, as well as an emotional feeling... one that has overwhelmed me ever since the first day that Ben told me God had called him into the ministry. My heart actually- physically-" leaped for JOY" that day and the glowing warmth that it created returns each time I think that God chose me to raise one of His servants, one of His vessels, one of His disciples, one of His ministers! It is truly an humbling experience and one of my life's biggest BLESSINGS! I am proud of you Preacher Ben and look so forward to the great things that God will do in your life. HE will be with you every step of the way and so will I!

Home Sweet Home

2007-12-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

(I've been busy, busy, busy, the last several weeks and today's post shares one of the reasons. Life's blessings... keeping me busy- it just doesn't get better than that!)

The newlyweds have a new home! Moving day was last Saturday and of course hubby and I were on hand to help (the two hour drive is definitely worth it). The house is a cozy home in a very old section of Winston-Salem, NC where the sidewalks are busy with strollers, joggers, and friendly faces. The newlyweds are contagiously happy and in love and that is a BLESSING indeed!

Baptism Blessings

2007-11-26T11:24:00.001-05:00

My twin great nieces were baptized yesterday which was a day of Thanksgiving and celebration for our family, especially since they were born prematurely at 29 weeks gestation. They are now 3 months old and weigh close to 8 pounds, which is a blessing indeed! I wanted to share part of the letter that their mom (my niece that is a Methodist minister) wrote to them on this special day. "Ella and Mattie, I love you. I feel so blessed that God chose me to be your mommy. You have brought so much joy to my life the last three months. I have been amazed to watch you develop and grow. You have come so far since August 23 and for that I give God thanks. God truly has a special plan for your life. I do not know what that plan is, but I can promise you that I will stand alongside you guiding you, supporting you, and loving you as that plan is revealed to all of us. God entrusted you into my earthly care, and I entrust you into God’s eternal love and care. I hope you always know how much I love you, but please don’t ever forget that God loves you more than any human could ever love. Today is a special day, my dear daughters, today is your baptism day."

Turkey Talk

2007-11-19T21:54:00.000-05:00

When I was small, we lived on a farm and we had several turkeys. I didn't associate Thanksgiving with turkeys because we often had turkey for the main course of a meal. I loved to chase them in the woods and at times they would even chase me back, especially if they had babies nearby. The farm animals were my playmates and most of my time was spent outside coming up with activities to pass the time of day. Life was fun, simple, and and never boring. I am thankful for those days on the farm. Many lessons were learned by chasing turkeys through the woods and that is a blessing indeed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Seeing Double

2007-11-12T20:04:00.000-05:00

Emily is the twin on the left and throughout their 19 years of life... I have been able to tell them apart (most of the time). As they got older, they wore their hair differently and Emily was slightly taller(she always said 5 foot 12 inches because 6 foot sounded too tall), which made it easy. Emily's face always seemed a little longer to me and they would just giggle with delight when I named them correctly. Precious memories... they are a blessing indeed!

Out of the Ashes

2007-11-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

Out of the ashes, we slowly try to put one foot in front of the other and face tomorrow. The ground is still shaky and our center of gravity seems to have shifted. Even though the sun is shining, there is a haze in the air and things aren't as clear as they once were. Focus, even on the simplest task, seems to be a monumental undertaking and our hearts are heavy- even though there is a hole of emptiness there. Yet, there is one thing we know for sure- PRAYER WORKS and that is a blessing indeed! Thank you for yours.

Memories

2007-11-03T13:56:00.000-05:00

Love, laughter, happiness, and joy... that's what Emily brought to my life and I am a better person for having her as my Goddaughter. Life as we knew it before October 28, 2007, has forever changed but all of our fond memories for this vivacious, adorable, young lady will comfort us, as we try to start a new chapter in our lives without her. She lived life to the fullest and would want all of her family and friends to do the same, so we WILL- by taking each new day one step at a time ... appreciating all of the BLESSINGS along the way.

Thank you for all of your kind thoughts, prayers and support.

My Heart Aches

2007-10-29T09:22:00.000-05:00

My precious, 19 year old God child died in a fire yesterday at Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina. She was a sophomore at Clemson University along with her twin sister, who was not with her for the beach get away (this is the only blessing that I can see so far). Please pray for her family and the others involved in this tragedy. I will try to get back to blogging when things are more settled. NEWS available here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/752517.html

Fantastic Fall Trip

2007-10-22T20:42:00.000-05:00

Michigan was a gorgeous mass of fall colors, with a touch of cooler weather to tease me before I had to return to the hot south today. The maple trees were especially colorful, with the crisp blue sky as a background. The colors in NC are delayed, due to the severe drought- this made me appreciate my visit with my sister even more. Fresh markets, antique stores, bountiful boutiques, delicious eateries, soccer games, football games, fall walks, long talks, and precious time with my little sister... a blessing indeed!

Alpha and Omega

2007-10-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

This is my mom, 82 years old, holding her precious great granddaughters. She has dementia and can't tell you what day it is or what she ate for lunch... but she remembers how to hold an infant! As you can see from the picture of her hands, she also has severe rheumatoid arthritis but reached out with poise to hold her great grandchild for the first time. She took turns holding the girls and then posed for a picture holding them both. Seeing this brought tears of joy to my eyes. It is a blessing indeed... the circle of life! The beginning and the end. Alpha and Omega!

Coincidence

2007-10-10T12:41:00.000-05:00

Instead of using the word coincidence, I prefer to use the word "Godincidence" because I feel that every event in my life (even the pain, struggles, and misfortune) has happened for a purpose and I routinely look around me seeking out "for what purpose have I been placed in this moment of time"? I witnessed a "Godincidence" moment this past Sunday morning. I normally attend the 2nd worship service and I do a children's sermon for this service at least once every 6 weeks. This past Sunday the pastor had me do the children's sermon for the early service because the children would be singing in the 2nd service and there wasn't enough time for the children's sermon in the 2nd service. As the children walked down to the alter for the children's sermon, I was delighted to see a former student attending. She is also the student that I tutor each Wednesday in our church after school program for at risk children. When I taught her in public school she often talked about church, so it never occurred to me to invite her to my church- but there she was with her family attending my church. I think the two of us hugged for at least 10 minutes and I spent extra time after the service letting her parents know how much I appreciated them visiting our church. I truly believe that God had all of this planned (even down to a way to get me to the first service) and that I was just his vessel. Now that is what I call a "Godincidence" and that is a blessing indeed!

Welcome Home Twins

2007-10-06T14:28:00.000-05:00

My twin nieces are home and that is a blessing indeed! Ella on the left weighs 5 lbs and Mattie on the right weighs 4 lbs! They are precious miracles from God and every one's prayers were answered, as they are coming home one month earlier than originally predicted. My day each week to care for them will be on Thursdays and I just can't wait. What an honor for me even if I have to drive 30 minutes to get there! God is good.

A Summer to Remember

2007-10-01T19:06:00.000-05:00

Hot, hot, hot... yes that is 109 degrees on my porch and the humidity was also high that day! It was August 3rd and thankfully weeks after the wedding. As I have said before, God blessed us in so many ways during the wedding weekend but one of the biggest blessings was the weather. The high was in the mid 80's, low humidity, and Carolina blue skies... just perfect! Then after the wedding the heat started, the drought came, and there was no relief at all, until this weekend. We had 70 degree days and cool 50 degree nights. The drought continues but this cooler weather is a blessing indeed. It is a perfect way to start October in North Carolina... maybe the rain will arrive soon!