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Labor Day: Celebrating the American Worker

labor-day

Here it is! The first Monday in September… the official end of summer. No more wearing white shoes (although khaki pants are still tolerable until the first snow fall).

To me, it’s really one of the saddest holidays, because it’s the holiday that signifies the last of things:

  • the last 3-day weekend
  • the last chance to take a camping trip
  • the last swim
  • the last paid holiday (until Veteran’s Day)
  • the last weekend of summer

However, this holiday was established to honor the great American Worker…those blue-collar workers who have contributed to the prosperity of this great Country.

America has always had an abundance of movers and shakers to build her up during her young formative years. When going from mainly agriculture and mercantile, to bustling manufacturing and production companies, these increasing businesses also brought on greater need for lots and lots of workers.

This was a good thing, as far as providing jobs for immigrants who were making their way into the country, as well as for the increasing population. However, as history records, working conditions weren’t always the best.

In the late 1800’s, the average American worker was working 12-hour days in unsafe, and unsanitary environments. Wages were sometimes low or unfair, young children were making a fraction of an adult’s wage, work areas were often hazardous to the employees. There were no breaks, no vacations, and often the 12-hour work day was seven days a week.

However, with the help of organized labor unions, the American workers united together to protest those awful situations, and after a lot of grit, guts, and grind, working conditions were greatly improved.

In 1882, Congress officially named the first Monday in September as the designated day to honor those manual laborers.

So, go Celebrate! Enjoy a BBQ, one last swim, an evening bonfire, or an extended rest from the drudgery of your job. And on Tuesday, when you’re standing around the water fountain, or taking an hour-long lunch, or snacking during your afternoon break, take a moment to remember those who stood strong to make working conditions better for us all.

 

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!

By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!

~John Dickinson


labor-day-500x500

 

chocolate peanut butter no bakes

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bakes

This is the perfect cookie when it’s too hot outside (and inside) to run the oven.

Earlier in our lives, when we had only six kids at home, I worked at the Christian school my kids attended, so understandably, I was often exhausted; probably because I was always pregnant or packing  a newborn. So Daughter #1 would make these cookies for us when we (she) craved a fast snack. She was actually the one who found the recipe, and I’m not sure I even made them until she went off to college.

These cookies are very easy to make and only require a few ingredients, which we always have on hand. They have that classic peanut butter and chocolate taste, in a soft and chewy fudge-like cookie.

And NO Baking!


01_no-bakes-ing
Gather all the ingredients
02_no-bakes-in-pan
Cook over medium high heat
04_no-bakes-rolling-boil
Bring to a rolling boil
05_no-bakes-add-pbutter_van
Add peanut butter and vanilla
Add oats
Add oats
Mix quickly
Mix quickly
Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper
Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper

 

 

 

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:2]
bible with pen

Teach Me Your Way

bible with pen
Psalm 119:13 ESV

[clickandtweet handle=”” hashtag=”” related=”” layout=”” position=””]Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Psalm 119:13[/clickandtweet]

 

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong, but walk in His ways!

You have commanded Your precepts to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all Your commandments.

I will praise You with an upright heart, when I learn Your righteous rules.

I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Psalm 119:2-8

 

 

Life can be a struggle. Making difficult decisions can lead to undesirable consequences. Sometimes we feel lost and confused about the direction our life has taken us. Indecision, uncertainty, and doubt regulate our thoughts, at times.

Well, navigating through life can be tough, and to quote President Obama, “This is just really hard.” (1) (I guess he found out that it was harder than it looked.)

However, we do have a Plan Book available to us–the Bible, God’s Holy Word, the Scriptures…whatever you choose to call it.

God has graciously given us a written account of how we are supposed to live our lives. The problem is that the Bible doesn’t have a topical index that we can turn to and look for the solutions to our problems—wouldn’t that be nice.

But the solutions are there; the plans are there; the instructions are there, and all we have to do is dig them out. We cannot know God’s wisdom and understanding unless we study—not just read, but study, His Word.

Is it important to study God’s Word?

Of course it is! In the Psalm above, law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, and commandments all refer to God’s Holy Word. To live a less hectic, more God-loving, people-loving, self-loving life, we must find His plans for us.

 

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (AMP)

 

 

 

 


1. Obama on Middle East peace efforts

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

 

One Stormy Night

The hot temperatures of August continually dropped, due to the cooler winds blowing in all day. It was a welcome relief to The Farmer as he toiled about his daily chores. And tonight, as he slipped into bed, the distant thunder rolling through the clouds began to lull The Farmer into a much needed night of rest.

The welcome sound of the peaceful rain lightly falling upon the metal roof of the barn began to slowly wash away all active thoughts of the busy day. How nice it would be to get a rain this time of year, when normally the weather was hot and dry.

Nevertheless, the rumble of the incoming storm wasn’t too far away, and the flash of lightening that quickly followed lit up the sky. And then a closer rumble and a loud boom—another flash of lightening—more rumbling—longer and deeper—and a brighter flash shooting across the skyline. And then suddenly…Crash! Boom! The heavens opened up, as barrels of water were dumped from the sky! Then there was no distance between the crash of the thunder… the flash of the lightening… and BOOM! …The Farmer was startled from sleep as the walls of his room were shaken!

As he walked through the house checking to make sure all was secure, his thoughts were consumed with the dread of disaster that awaited him in the morning. There would be no more rest for The Farmer that night.underline fancy lines


As we all know, Missouri weather tends to be very unpredictable, and this year we’ve seen a lot of storms blow in. One stormy night, not too long ago, we got 6” of rain and another 4” a few days later. You can imagine how hard and wicked the rain had to come to get that much water on the ground.

Needless to say, that causes a lot of flooding anywhere there is water. And where there is flooding there are fallen trees in the field, debris left behind by rising creeks, and washed away water gaps. And with a gravel driveway, that goes up hill both ways, that much water, in that short of time, washes all the rock right into the hayfields. This has kept The Farmer very busy.

Another problem arising is that he hasn’t been able to get into the hayfield to actually get up the hay. Although he has a lot of his hay up, he needs another cutting or two to get enough to get us through the winter. However, on the bright side, it’s the middle of August and we have GREEN pastures! So, for now, the cows are very happy!


 

cattle eating grass
Psalm 104:1, 14 KJV

 

Isaiah 40:25

Who Is Comparable To God?

“To whom then will you compare Me, that I should be like him?” says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:25

Who is comparable to God? There is no one like Him. There is no one comparable to Him. Have you ever tried to explain God to a young child? It’s hard to do; a child’s world is full of magical characters like:

  • Santa Claus, who “sees you when you’re sleeping”,
  • The Tooth Fairy who sneaks into your room and exchanges money for a forgotten tooth underneath a pillow
  • The Easter Bunny who hides plastic eggs on the lawn
  • The boogeyman who will get you if you “sing at the table or whisper in bed”

But these characters, and others like them, are not comparable to God and His greatness.

As we grow older, these fantasies are replaced by super heroes who have their own legends to live up to. Today most super-brave, over-accomplishing, fictional characters have complete historical backgrounds built around their super-ness, which kids of every age thrill to discover.

However, these super characters pale in the light of our powerful God.

As adults we may lay aside the whimsical heroes and felons of our childhood, but often we replace these fanciful feelings with idolization of those who we consider to be great in their own rights. We try to compare man and his accomplishments to God and His greatness. Maybe it’s because it’s easier for us to quantify man, because God is immeasurable, but no one is comparable to God.

  • Man can be placed in time and space, but God is omnipresent–He has the power to be everywhere at the same time
  • Man can be awarded with certificates and mark off his learning achievements, but God is omniscient–He has unlimited knowledge and understanding
  • Man’s authority, influence, and power is measured by those who follow him, but God is omnipotent–He has infinite power and authority

No one is comparable to God; no fictional character we can imagine, no person who has achieved the ultimate pinnacle of success, and nothing we create with our hands can compare, either.

To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? An idol!

A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.

He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot;

he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.

Isaiah 40:18-20

Who is comparable to God? No one… there is no one comparable to God. There is no one else who has immeasurable power, unending authority, boundless mercy, and everlasting love.

God’s love cannot be compared to any other love we will ever know.

Isaiah 40:25
Isaiah 40:25 ESV

God Created Everything

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And God saw every thing that he had made,

and, behold, it was very good.

And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Genesis 1:1, 31



Some people have a hard time believing that creation of the world took only six days to complete. Some say that there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.

(1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. {And then other things happened for billions of years} (2) And the earth [became?] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

While they teach that God created all things, the gap comes from the efforts of men to coincide the scientific faith, that the earth is billions of years old, with the spiritual faith, that God is the Creator.

They propose that supposedly billions of years ago when God created the earth, it was somehow filled with all the living life forms—including the cave men and dinosaurs— that our geologist are now finding in ancient ruins, hidden caves, and on top of uninhabited mountain tops.

However, (according to their theory) this age came to an end shortly after Lucifer and his entourage of fallen angels were banned from heaven and cast to the earth. It was then that the earth was—or to use their word—“became” without form and void.

There are many arguments out there for and against the gap theory and you can study and believe what you would like. However, if we take the Bible literally, then God created the heaven, the earth, the universe, and everything that exits (and continues to procreate) in six literal days—24 hours—morning to night.

In the beginning, God created:

Day 1—God created light

Day 2—God created the sky and seas

Day 3—God separated the sea to create dry land and created vegetation

Day 4—God created the sun, the moon and the stars

Day 5—God created the swimming creatures and the flying creatures

Day 6—God created the land creatures and man (and woman)

For six days God’s Spirit breathed on our universe creating everything from the smallest thing seen through the lens of a microscope to the largest thing seen through the lens of a telescope. 

What an amazing God we have the privilege to serve!

Resources:

Christian Answers

Christianity About

Answers in Genesis

Who Is Jesus

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

My faith is the most important aspect of my life. At age twenty-one, I accepted God’s provision for my sin debt and made Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of my life and soul. From that point on, I have never looked back nor have I ever regretted my decision. Jesus is my Redeemer.

One of my favorite episodes in the Bible is found in Mark 8. Jesus asked His disciples a very important question

“Who do men say that I am?”

The disciples gave various answers, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and some say you are one of the prophets”.

Jesus then asked the most important question, “But who do you say that I am?”

What a great question! What a great way to make it personal. Jesus is not interested in hearing our theology of –anything; He wants to know what you think, what you believe.

Who do you say Jesus is?

That’s a personal question; one that is answered in your heart—in the deepest part of your being. It’s an answer that, no matter what your words say to others, your answer will be known at the end of time (at the end of your time here on earth).

Who do you say Jesus is?

Peter answered the Lord rightly when he said, “Thou art the Christ”. The Bible says He is the Son of God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Bright and Morning Star, The Lion of Judah and The Lamb of God; He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He has been given a name above all names, and that all will eventually bow before him. His name is Jesus, the only begotten of the Heavenly Father. He is our Mediator, the Rock of our Salvation, and the propitiation for our sins.

Who do you say Jesus is?

Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Who do you say Jesus is?

Mark 8:34 says that Jesus called His disciples and the people who were with them together, and said,

“Whosoever will come after me, let him take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

So, do you have an answer?  Have you ever considered it before?

Who do you say Jesus is?

A Look At Our Declaration Of Independence

As our nation celebrates another year of being free from tyrannical rule, I have personally found it beneficial to re-examine the original Declaration of Independence that allowed our great country to proclaim its independence in the first place.

I’ve copied it below, if you would like to read it. I also included the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, because I believe heroes should be mentioned by name as often as possible.

The 56 men who signed away their allegiance to Britain and her King, did not do so lightly. It wasn’t a rally or a demonstration or a petition that they signed. They considered the consequences of their action and did what they had to do.

They pledged their allegiance to the “Free and Independent States” with their “Lives…Fortunes…and sacred Honor”.

Fortunately for us Americans, they, with much assistance from the other colonists, were successful in warding off an unfair, corrupt, and oppressive government who desired to rule the Colonies under his tyrannical judgement (not unlike some governments of today).

The Declaration justifies the necessity of becoming independent, by proclaiming the wrongs they had suffered from an unjust government. Our Founding Fathers proclaimed their reasons, their hopes, and their promise of Independence.

However, as they were seeking Independence from man (the king), they were totally dependent upon God (the King of Kings).

In re-writing history, some like to say that our nation wasn’t founded on Christianity, but it was. It wasn’t started for Christianity (as others believe), but their is no denying that the Founding Fathers relied upon God’s wisdom and provision as they stepped out by faith during the time of this great Nation’s birth.

Looking back at old documents, letters, and other writings, it’s clear that true Christianity had a big part in shaping America. And one cannot obliterate true Christianity no matter how many times they change the “facts”.

For example:

They can take prayer out of the classroom, but they cannot take it out of the hearts of the students and teachers.

They can take The Ten Commandments off of the walls in a government building, but God’s Laws of Nature cannot be erased.

They can prevent a Nativity scene from being displayed in a public square, but they cannot eradicate the miraculous event which gives us all the opportunity for eternal life.

May God continue to shed His grace on America.

Happy Independence Day!

Stay armed…Stay strong…Stay free


Constitution and Declaration of Independence on Grungy Betsy Ross Flag

In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.


The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Georgia

Button Gwinnett

Lyman Hall

George Walton

North Carolina

William Hooper

Joseph Hewes

John Penn

South Carolina

Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Lynch, Jr.

Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts

John Hancock

Maryland

Samuel Chase

William Paca

Thomas Stone

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia

George Wythe

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Harrison

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania

Robert Morris

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Franklin

John Morton

George Clymer

James Smith

George Taylor

James Wilson

George Ross

Delaware

Caesar Rodney

George Read

Thomas McKean

New York

William Floyd

Philip Livingston

Francis Lewis

Lewis Morris

New Jersey

Richard Stockton

John Witherspoon

Francis Hopkinson

John Hart

Abraham Clark

New Hampshire

Josiah Bartlett

William Whipple

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

Hay! It’s Summer

The first FULL day of summer and The Farmer has been in the hay field for two weeks now. He and Neighbor Dave (who is also a farmer and retired) began doing custom hay baling last year for other neighbors. There’s not a lot of money to be made (like all farming adventures), but it does keep them busy and gives them a reason to buy more toys …uh…equipment.

They have been (mostly) fortunate with the weather. It takes 3 good days to cut, dry, and bale hay; they have had almost two weeks of dry weather. Of course, now we need rain because the fields are drying up.

Can you imagine what the Lord thinks about us farmers? First we pray for rain so the crops and hay will grow, then we pray for no rain so we can get in the crops and hay. And then we complain because it gets too hot and too dry for too long. No wonder Missouri’s weather changes so often—all those farmers praying for different weather conditions to fit into their own schedules!

The thing I like about summer, besides the fact that there is no snow, is the opportunity to get outside. I don’t really go outside just to be outside, but I do enjoy sitting on the front porch, and swimming. Our home is right-smack-dab in the middle of our field, so the cows are always around, which is usually an enjoyable experience. However, when The Farmer and I sneak a little alone time on the front porch swing, or I’m floating in solitude around the edge of the pool, the aroma of cow manure wafting in the breeze is not a pleasant experience.

This phenomenon doesn’t usually occur when it’s been so dry, so I confronted The Farmer with the problem. He offhandedly remarked that the “aroma” seemed to be coming from the east, which isn’t the norm, but unfortunately meant that it was coming from our barn lot.

Not that The Farmer needed any confirmation that he was right, which is the norm, but I found it anyway. Today as I was surfing the Net, I ran across this folklore in the Farmer’s Almanac:

calves watching out by the pool
calves watching out by the pool

We’ll see if it’s true or not…meanwhile, I’m considering planting some honeysuckle on the east side of the house to see if that will mask the “aroma”.

 

Grandma Lorene

(From 2016)

A few weeks ago, my Grandma Lorene passed into Heaven. She had accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior when she was a young mother, and she exemplified true Christianity throughout her life. She was the matriarch of the family, and the foundation upon which we all grew upon. She was kind, wise, loving, caring…

I know it sounds like I’m romanticizing my grandmother’s memory, but she was truly all these things and much more.

She was the oldest of 11 children, grew up during the depression and had a fairly rough childhood. She married at an early age, so she and her mother were having children at the same time, and they became close friends.

Grandma Lorene and Grandpa Dee lived in a small town in south Missouri, and they did their part to populate it. They had 6 children, 17 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, 60 great-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-great-grandchildren. (That would have been 11% of the population, if all of us were living there.)

She and my grandfather were solid people. They not only raised their six children, during the 30’s and 40’s, but many, many people have shared fond memories of being in their 2-story craftsman home. Their doors were always open to everyone: friends, playmates, less fortunate neighbors, family members, and even hobos that rode the train into town—Grandma never turned anyone away. They had so little, but shared so much.

They had a large front yard, right in the middle of town, and it was always full of children running and playing and jumping off of the big front porch. Recently, I overheard my aunts and my uncle recalling the games they used to play in that front yard; it was the same games my cousins and I had played, too. My favorite game was “steal the flag” (although the 4th generation calls it “capture the flag”).

I think my favorite memories recalled by my mother and her sisters and brother are the times when Grandma Lorene would sing. She sang often to us grandchildren; mostly songs about Jesus and His promises. But they remember times when they would all gather around in the small living room with their friends and cousins, when the weather was too bad to go out and play

“Mother and Daddy,” my mother recalls fondly, “gathered us all into the living room and they would sing songs to us. Daddy only had a couple of songs that he would sing, but Mother sang song after song.”

Recently, I was blessed to spend some precious time with my mother, her sisters, and their brother, and the girls sang me a few of the ballads my grandmother used to sing to them. One sister would start a song, and then the others would begin to sing along—it was a sweet, sweet testament to my grandmother.

Grandpa Dee passed a few years ago, and some time later, my Grandma Lorene had gone to live with her oldest daughter. However, due to failing health, Grandma Lorene had gone into a nursing home. Her children were faithful in tending to her. Those who lived close would go every day, and those who lived hours away would come every week.

Several times I have witnessed the staff in the nursing home commending them for the attention and time they were giving to their Mother, and each time one of them would say, “Mother has always been there for us, how could we not be here now for her.” And then story after story would be told about her being there with each of them at some important, life-changing event.

She spent eight months in the nursing home before she was taken to the hospital, due to congestive heart failure. And in true fashion of a woman who loved and was loved, the family began to gather around her—speaking words of love and encouragement.

She spent her last days in the hospital—surrounded by those who loved her most. One of my aunts brought in a CD player, and the room was filled with beautiful, Southern Gospel songs about God and His glory.

As visitors came in and out of the room, the sadness of seeing Grandma at this stage of life was quickly replaced with the joy of a memory each one had shared with this precious woman.

My mother had been driving down and spending the day at the hospital for almost three weeks. Every day when she would leave, she didn’t know if that would be the last time or not…it got very hard for her, and the others. Day after day, they watched their precious mother struggle with being in this world, and looking towards the next. They knew when she passed from this earth that God had a place prepared for her in Glory, but it’s hard to watch life ebb from someone you love so much. However, the assurance that there is a place where loved ones will be united and pain and sorrow will not follow is such a blessing to us who are left behind.

As we gathered in Grandma Lorene’s room that last day, we could tell she was getting weaker. Heavenly music was softly playing in the background as each of us whispered our last goodbye, or one more I love you, into her ear.

The day stretched on into early evening, and we lingered hoping that her spirit would be released, so she could be at rest. We began playing specific songs that encouraged us, and that we hoped would encourage Grandma: “Sheltered in the Arms of God”, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”, “Supper Time”… We sang softly with each song, as we sat with her, praying for her, kissing her, loving her; we knew she was only a prayer away from leaving us.

And then a song by Vince Gill was playing next to her pillow, and we softly sang along—“Go Rest High On That Mountain”<<click to listen

“Go rest high on that mountain,

[Mother] your work on earth is done

Go to Heaven a shoutin’

Love for the Father and the Son

…Go to Heaven a shoutin’

Love for the Father and the Son…

As the music softly faded into the last hushed tone, a quiet calm fell upon the room; and all who were there saw Grandma Lorene take her last breath in this life, as her spirit was released into eternal life.

Grandma Lorene lived a full life; she was just a few days short of turning 97 years-old. She was devoted to her family; was a friend to all whom she met; served in the church through many aspects—especially teaching Sunday school; but most of all she lived her life under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that people are known by the fruits they bear, and she produced a lot of spiritual fruit.

She was loved deeply by us all, and she will be greatly missed. But we have this hope, that when she left her temporary dwelling (her body), she was in her eternal dwelling place with God. (2 Corinthians 5)

She fought a good fight,

She finished her course,

She kept the faith:

And there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness,

Which the Lord the righteous Judge, has given her…

(paraphrased from 2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Grandma Lorene was a true servant of our Lord, Jesus Christ. She was well-known for her singing– while she was busy about her business, to any child who was fortunate to hear, and for a time as a song leader in her church. This song,  “Momma’s Teaching Angels How to Sing” <<click here>> reminds me of Grandma Lorene. I often listen to it when she crosses my memory.

For The Service You Gave

Veterans day 2014

 

thank you vet

 

 

Jesus said, “This is My commandment,

That you love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

 

Just a Note: If you have a Veteran that you would like to add, please send their picture and their name to my email: cindra e @ ymail . com (no spaces) I will continue to add to this wall, so please share this post with others.