Ladies & Gentlemen?

What does the title "lady/ladies" or "Gentleman/Gentlemen" mean anymore?  As I ponder in less than amused fashion I can only tell you what it means at my house.
Here goes~

At our house I stand alongside my husband [ of almost 52 years now] in more ways than a few.  In the shop as he works on his building projects I stand right there ..to critique & supervise.  I can always spot the paint drip or the rough edge he missed with the sander.  I seldom miss the ugly dab of carpenter's glue that should not be showing and of course I am going to take note of the finished project that still needs another coat of paint.

And who says Mom has no sense of humor..enough of that and on to the intended slant of this post.

Other real ways in which I stand alongside or behind in a supportive role include working in the flower beds, washing down the house and other outdoor walls when they need a fresh look, repainting outdoor furniture, lifting, loading and fetching whatever needs to be as we dig into those seasonal hot and yes sweaty, dirty jobs that are a part of life and the joys of home ownership.  At the end of one of those days when all the batteries [ours] have run down and the bodies have soaked in more grunge than anyone can abide, we call it quits, shut down the storage and shop areas and retreat to shade, comfort and indoor modern 'thank you Lord" A/C. 

Here's the first illustration.  As we two sorry sights [not to mention smelly?] move indoors headed for the showers..My silver fox OPENS THE DOOR, STANDS ASIDE AS HE ALLOWS ME TO 'GO FIRST'...Now that's a Gentlemen. There is no audience he just does it because he is...a gentlemen.  And guess what~ I allow him to be a gentlemen as he shows deference to a lady.  [that would be ME, his wife ] I am a strong, independent female but I am not a dumb one.

My observations of our world close by reveal to me that men often are no longer gentlemen because there is no Lady allowing them to behave in a gentlemanly manner.

Girls, for heaven's sake let the men treat you like someone special.  Are you not? Then when you get into place at the office where you have responsibility and perhaps some authority..do your job.  Allowing men to treat you politely does not have to weaken or dimish your strengths.  It's no wonder so many men are pitiful specimens of what God intended  them to be.  Women {the 'women's movement,etc] have told them they are not necessary, not wanted or needed.  It didn't take too long for them to "get the message" and learn quite well  this role of "being a man",  without respect for self, for women or any clear understanding of what responsibility really means in the context of 'the family."    It is now quite common to find that a man often thinks his responsibilities are done with when he has a job and brings home a paycheck..how sad!

How thankful..how very thankful I am the  children in this family never saw that kind of example at our house.

Have I told you my illustration of the BIG UMBRELLA?  One Sunday morning in Texas it was raining cats and dogs when church was over and as we left the worship service Ted pulled out the BIG UMBRELLA..and with both of us protected from the drenching rain he walked us to the car securely closing the door  as I slipped into my seat untouched by the downpour.

[I will post an "umbrella" pic soon]

At that moment as I was about to get into the car I thought: "What a perfect picture of a Godly man and his role regarding a wife and children." I have never forgotten that beautiful simple picture.  Thank You Lord!

Miles and Milestones~

Ah, the miles! The miles traveled and the milestones in the lives of our Grands -they keep coming.

Just a reminder-our only daugher has our only grand daughters..two,ages 13 and 18 this year. The oldest, Dylan graduated from high school this month-May 22, 2011 in Mason city, Iowa. 

We traveled the 1,000 plus [one way] trip by way of western Kentucky where we took a slight detour and spent a few days with my "little sister, Gwen" and her husband.  Since she retired about a year ago they live near Lake Barkley.  That's convenient since he eats, sleeps, breathes and worships FISHING -taking time off only for the deer in season and golfing when the fish run away from home.  Of course none of you will share this with him...he doesn't know.  Over the span of our adult years my sister and I have had so very few opportunities to spend time together. For this reason it has been such a joy to be able to visit a huge total of four times since 2007. Joy, Joy!

Ted and I  managed to dodge any treacherous areas where flooding was a problem and arrived in Nora Springs, Iowa on Saturday night -just right for getting to attend church with our daughter Deanna, husband Tim and Grands, Dylan, Zack and Samantha.

During that first week we attended a track meet,  a choir concert, an awards program and a Garden Club in Mason City where Dylan sang, accompanying herself on guitar. [And we are not even to Graduation yet. ] During this time Deanna and I finished our shopping list and set up plans for Saturday night's Graduation party and put together a Display photo collage and photo album to show off high school memories and family pictoral treasures  at the party. Dylan gathered trophy mementoes and Dance Team uniforms, etc to add to her display which she put together without any help from us.  All this had to be done working around the last few days of school and Tim's crazy work schedule but we did it!

Graduation party was wonderful ..could not have been better.  People appeared to really enjoy it..liked the food and lingered to visit.

I will insert pictures as I can.  One perfectly delightful observation I must share. When I noticed an opening at her Guest reception table I went over to grab a hug  and take a picture..and was more than amused [ it was hilarious ] she had her autograph pillow for her friends to sign and spread out on the table beside the card box were a variety of wallet size photos of herself..and I overheard her tell some of her friends that she would AUTOGRAPH the photo for them..To appeciate that you must know that Dylan is very passionate about pursuing  a future in the music industry [ Nashville? Of course!] Her piers were not surprised at all..they know her!



Baccularete service and Graduation ceremony  wound up on Sunday with mobs of graduates, faculty, family and friends taking photos with the newest alumni braving winds strong enough to rock our heavy vehicle at the gas pump afterwards.

After family gathering and departures Sunday afternoon and early Monday Dylan spread out her savings and Graduation cash gifts  and the car lot tour in Mason City began.  This wound up with a little red Ford Escort as Dylan counted out her savings, grad gifts, tips from Appleby's and a generous loan from her big hearted 16 year old brother Zack.

Family-Always!

Having left south Alabama on May 11th [ it is now May 26th] We directed Gertrude [ GPS ] toward home.

Tornado Weather~ Phillipians 4:7

What do Grammas everywhere  do when such destructive storms are pending?

Pray people - they pray..and accept the peace that is offered us in scripture, that peace that 'passes all understanding.'  [ Phillipians 4:7 ]

Gramma's Bible~ circa 1983

 The oldest personal Bible I have is the dainty white Bride's Bible I carried with me down the isle when I was married June 21,1959 in Mershon Baptist Church-in south Georgia.  It was a gift from our church's Girl's Auxiliary organization. It cost $4.95. I know because the tag was accidentally left inside.

I used it regularly for the first few years then graduated to a larger edition with larger print I am sure. I seldom read from it now and never use it to study but it is a proudly/humbly displayed treasure in our living room placed next to our Wedding Picture..the only one we have.

Over the years I had several Bibles, some received as gifts and used regularly some remained in new condition because I was not comfortable using it..the edition of THE LIVING BIBLE was a beautiful book and gift from someone who loved me but I was never comfortable with it.  The black KJV above was a gift from Ted, Steve and Deanna on my birthday 1983. This was the most used Bible of my life.

From 1983 until 2011 this Bible with all it's notes, highlighting and marking tells a story of God's Word used in a person's life. When I left it to be restored earlier this year it was very difficult to use..one might easily say it was ragged.  Some pages were even unattached. One of our children remarked a few years ago as he saw me carry this "falling apart" Book "Mom, are you trying to shame us all?"  After a minute I realized what he meant.  He was referring to the 'testimony' of a well used Bible [I think].

This is the restored precious Bible we picked up from the Lifeway store today after paying them $175.49.  I am sure that is several times the amount paid for the original one given me in 1983.  That's okay..I would have paid twice that if necessary.  It has been suggested that perhaps I will take better care of it this time. No, my heart's desire is to wear it out again with use.

What a sweet thing to open the returned old worn out cover and find so many little treasures that had been between the pages. There were love notes from "my girls" I taught in southeast Texas, Book marks from the Grand children, one from Turner, another from "Amie Simmons", a little love note from "Holly", another from Lindsey and one from Dylan,  All these priceless little treasures from loved ones.  I had overlooked these and am so thankful they were salvaged and returned to me.

[ ~post script: I am thinking about buying a brand new one to wear out  and if God allows enough years perhaps another one so there will be one for each of our children to have when I am gone.]

YES!!

HE IS RISEN~He is risen indeed!

Share Jesus Without Fear

Share Jesus Without Fear

Simple Things~

Such simple things as a bunch  OF FRESH RADISHES from our little patch in the back yard -makes my day. 

Did you ever learn to appreciate those small radishes thinnly sliced and slipped into a biscuit..even a cold one? If you are under fifty..maybe not :^)

And the fresh green onions are just as celebrated-am waiting a few days to begin raiding the Romaine Lettuce but it's looking good!

3-29-41 Remembered~

They know I love colorful. They know  how much I appreciate flowers and candles.

I appreciate the fact that they knew how to find and use a small package of candles using  less than the entire eight.  Somebody likely did a little visualization and knew they didn't want to make a cake large enough to accomodate that many candles-of course Gramma wouldn't have been able to blow them all out without starting a fire.

WEDDING BELLS~ Joy,Joy!



Steve & Carol
December 2010 at "the Hanging of the Green" at Eastern Hills
Baptist Church, Montgomery,Al.



They came down Saturday afternoon to share the news with us and
we had dinner together at Ruby Tuesdays

[Right now I am so overwhelmed and joyful I am almost at a loss for
words..as soon as I "find words" again, I will elaborate on this wonderful
news and all that is filling my heart. additional pictures to follow ]

A Personal Invitation!

 

Pour yourself a Cup of your Fav Tea, turn the TV off, Pull up a Chair and soak in all the Pretties I have scattered about the house for you - join the conversation-Leave Me a comment, feedback you want to share. If I did not like tea I would drink it anyway just to have an excuse for collecting pretty tea cups and teapots.

I look forward to your input~ Jonell

When a Thank You is Not Enough~



The Restoration Project
A Labor of Love

 There are some things so unselfish in the doing and giving that THANK YOU is not adequate. In fact just the words THANK YOU are almost pathetic. I am thinking of the act of making SALVATION available to us ~it's just not enough to say 'thank you'~ to put that into my pitiful everyday perspective..has a loved one done something for you that was so totally beyond SELF..So completely about YOU THE RECIPIENT and you start to express appreciation and it's hard to say thank you..IT'S SO WIMPY..whaddaya do? What I did was just express to that person what I just said..that I realize THANK YOU just doesn't cover it. mmm something to mull over and see what God reveals to me there.

March Winds~~

 

Here it comes right on schedule [ today is the last day of February]

..the March Winds!  And there they go~~~~ the blooms on the fruit trees! 

Soaking Up Sun-Vitamin D

Sooooooooo nice~my first nap on the deck in the FEBRUARY SUN this afternoon.  That, my dear friends to the north is reason enough to COME ON DOWN  South.

After announcing that I  am okay with "sunning" again-a friend replied that "we're going one way or another-might as well go with a tan".

My stated rationale is that I will die before any skin cancer would kill me but I like my friend's thought process..God will recognize me either way, right?

{have avoided excess sun for many years b/c I turn dark practically overnight}

Our next seasonal milestone will be COFFEE ON THE FRONT PORCH early mornings! The only problem is Spring seems to be coming fast and I don't have all the black rockers and wicker repainted yet....Oh well I usually work better under pressure with deadlines!

Close Out 2010

Christmas in Brundidge 2010

Thanksgiving in Montgomery 2010

Sweet Rememberings~

Thinking about how times, relationships and expectations of loved ones have  changed:

Remembering Grandma Mobley- She never cooked my favorite food.  In fact I don't recall having a favorite food.  It was just good to have food. 

She didn't have a basket or box with toys set aside or bought for me and I don't even recall having a writing tablet or a special book she had for me or the other grandchildren to use at her house.

As a child I don't remember getting a letter or a love note from Grandma.  She never asked me what I wanted "Santa" to bring me and never went to a school function or special program I was in as a child.  I can't recall her ever giving me money  or sending me a birthday card.

So how is it that I have nothing but loving fond memories of my Grandma Mobley?

We never had a list of things she had to do in order to measure up as my grandma? She was who she was and we loved her ...just as she loved and accepted us, each one treasured  in her heart...none more than another.  She was my Grandma in a time when people accepted each other without trying to reshape and remake to suit us. She [or Grandpa] didn't have to do anything to be loved and treasured by me and all my cousins.

They didn't "measure up"...They didn't have to.  What a treasure!

Have a Berry Merry~and a Wonderful 2011

Yes, I am jumping past Christmastime quickly but a realistic assesment of the next week or so tells me to put aside blogging for a few weeks.

This is the time  I had intended to pause and have this past two years of my two blogs  compiled into a book for sharing with loved ones..I hope it will have some meaning and value for them perhaps they  will treasure it in some small way.

Christmastime is a mixed bag~it's a time of Joy and Giving, of sharing and Loving, and also a time of sadness~ remembering those loved ones not with us now and others so far away at Christmastime; however  I am reminded of how often & how long I have asked My Lord to "keep my heart tender" ~so there!!

[To be continued in 2011]

Over the River and Through the Woods~

Leaving Troy, Alabama the early morning sunrise in the rear view mirror was amazing.  It was exciting getting on the road. [ Yeah, I know-it doesn't take much to excite us.] I love the skyline as we drive through or past the larger cities and the  southern landscape which shows more evergreen and some color changes to the bare dark,dark silhouette of the trees as we move northward..no color, no leaves but it has it's own distinctive wintry beauty.  I always remember this from our years in western Kentucky in the 1970's.  God made all kinds of beauty didn't He?

We knew to expect almost any kind of change in the weather and we got it..the changes! We had one whole day of non stop snowing, drove to church with snow and ice  and I think I was the only person  saying "It's so beautiful, it's all so beautiful anyway.". It was. For the first time in quite a while I had not only my heaviest [NOT] coat, scarves but two or three pairs of GLOVES..most winters I cannot even find my gloves.

One night the temperature got down to 5 degrees.Yes!  The next morning the neighbors dogs were the only ones with the sense to get out there and run and romp and play in all that wonderful white stuff.  Yes they were..I stood watching out the window while no one was yet awake..the dogs were like little children lightheartedly running about. 

When you are in western Kentucky..it's worth the effort to locate and spend a little time in Grand Rivers/look for Pattie's 1880's Settlement..Omy, the lights, the shops the restaurants are festive enough even in July but in December it's like a miniature Disney setting..

After a bit more real winter and heading home [south] I couldn't resist the ooooooohs and ahhhhhs as we went past the rock walls in Tennessee and North Alabama with remnants of the ice  left hanging..don't laugh at me.  You must remember I am a girl who grew up in the deep south [ South Georgia ] we saw one day of 4 inches of snow in 1957 or was it 1958!

The ice on our windshield, outside mirrors and radio antenna didn't hang on too long and by the time we got home to Brundidge, Alabama [ an hour south of Montgomery] there was still time for MY plumber to repair the frozen and broken water line in the back yard before bedtime.  It was not a surprise because a neighbor had called while we were still hours away to give us a 'heads up' concerning the discovery.

Today it's another world-cool yes- but now the "plumber" has turned "carpenter" and is finishing the shed next to the shop-the roof will get done today.  How blessed I am to have the plumber, the carpenter, and many other professionals living under the same roof. What a man!!

Time Out~

~Time Out for an overnight trip with a group of lovely lovely ladies from church as we attend a Beth Moore Conference [Deeper Still ] in Birmingham..Friday and Saturday.

After two days of wonderful thinking, teaching, talking, laughing,sharing and amazing Worship with Music surely I will be inspired to leave a few thoughts to share with you.

mmm perhaps a few pictures too~we shall see!

The Days~The Season

God is so Good! Loving the excitement in the air...typical November in the deep south weather-sunny, a cool crisp fall feel and just enough breeze now and then.

 God really knows how to MAKE DAYS, doesn't he?

The old folks climbed into the attic this morning~hauled down the containers filled with strings of lights and other decorations for inside and outdoors.  The chore we mastered with the greatest amount of pride was  getting the [boxed] 9ft. tall Christmas tree down the attic stairs.  Actually it was easy all because of the way my helper had ingenuously wrapped,knotted and tied the box with a rope.  He held the free end while the long heavy box just slid down to the kitchen floor.  That knot tying course in the Navy comes in quite handy at times. 

While we aren't aiming to get the indoor project done until mid week we will be fairly organized now..the tree is together out on the screened in side porch..waiting for me to do the magic shaping and as my friend "Shirley" says FLUFFING up the branches. I have to be careful not to get ahead of myself..

This is the plan:  The outdoor lights and displays comes first..then the HOUSE CLEANING and finally the indoor decorations..sounds like a good plan.  I will let us know how it plays out. [to be continued]

Dancing Around -

All those ideas, the plans! It's that time again! Ahhhhhhh, Christmas!

mmm ..what am I planning..1st open house at Themarketplace-CLEANING at the  Harrison House,Thanksgiving at Johnny  & Loretta's, the stuff FROM THE ATTIC comes down -is fluffed , untangled, strung in place & put together..in the right space....I know it's way too much - I  do SO ENJOY IT WHEN IT'S DONE! We both look forward to the  first night [just before dark] when Ted and I light all those candles in the bags/w sand.
We enjoy having OTHERS ENJOY our efforts..
Ahhhhh Christmas!!

Yes, I know, I know..Thanksgiving is not here yet but we do have to think ahead, right?
I am not going to totally skip The Season of Giving Thanks~ You do know we celebrate that all year long..I am made thankful daily as I observe life, Creation and people around me.

So..that's sounding like we'll be flipping the pages from Turkey Day to Jesus' Birth  for several weeks..by all means~Let's celebrate!

[to be continued..]