L O N E L Y ~

(I've been saving this post for a special time I suppose...just occurred to me that it could be a special time..this could be the very day someone else can benefit from my introspective thoughts.  Let me know if it was meaningful to you in any way.)

Lonely Is More Than

L o n e s o m e

For The Company of Another

L.O.N.E.L.Y.

It's  not simply  about being ALONE.

It is
Being Without...

the loved one who is no longer  here.

It's much more than a house or environment being
 Q u i e t-

It's about everything around you being
Complicated-

Too Big
Too Quiet
Too  Empty

Well, that's my two cents worth on the subject-
Your feedback, please~

Jonell

One Month In - Updates from Abby In London-

it has officially been a month since I've packed my bags and left for England! It's crazy how fast this month has passed. One month has exposed me to  many  differences between England and the United States.

The obvious difference of driving on the other side of the road. I'm able to walk everywhere (or grab a bus).  Walking & biking are  huge here. Manchester has lots of people, things to do, people  walking to work, class, city center, etc.  I have never walked  so many consecutive days before.

Another difference  has to be the style here. Everybody dresses a little more "edgier" here. People are not afraid to mix and match different styles, patterns and colors. The best part is that nobody cares!

I had never heard  that the British come across "cold" upon first impression; but now I can understand why  people think that. When  in a large crowd it is  easy to "spot the American" because they will probably be the loudest  in the group. When meeting new people I think sometimes I scare them because I am more outgoing. Nonetheless, they are still very nice people, it just takes a little longer for them to warm up to you.

Then there's the weather. I had been alerted before leaving for England to get ready for the rainy, gloomy & cloudy weather. I love sunshine, the beach & a bright blue sky-so this has definitely been a transition.  Lately the weather has been super nice.  I appreciate when the sun does shine.

I am looking forward to all the new and exciting adventures  in these next 4 months!

Abby -

Gramma Traveled to P.A.R.I.S.? Yes, She Did!

(Looking Back at the Year 2016)

Gramma Traveled to Paris

And the Netherlands- Amsterdam, and did I mention Paris?  Add Normandy to that!

And don't forget- P.A.R.I.S.   - YES!

Justa Note~

I hardly know where to begin-
Perhaps March 17th

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

I suppose that would be a good place to start-

After all everyone was gathering there for 6:35 p.m. departure.

Oh, yes-and by the way-Remember the Brussels bombing in March 2016?
You guessed it.

But that's okay-This occurred two days AFTER WE SPED THRU
(on the high speed train)
 from Amsterdam to Paris.

And I know no one believes this but it's true-
There was never one sound, scene or situation where we felt in danger or threatened-
Well, fast forward to the airport as we were to leave from Paris headed back to the U.S.-
Security was really tight.
This was not frightening-It was encouraging that everyone was on the job and not missing anything!

Pam Smith & husband Ray

( Problems? They have the solutions! )

JH

Ahh, Why Do I Love This

I Just Do -

Victoria Magazine

Is it the fine bone china pattern? Is it the pretty silver spoon?  Could it be the tea table with the beautiful linens, the anticipation of what's to be served along with tea?

Perhaps it's just a lazy Saturday thing -

I just do! That's all.

Tea for me-

And You, And You-

That Makes Three..

For afternoon tea

With me.

Notes From Abby in London -

I have officially made it to a new decade-

It is so cool to me to be able to say I celebrated -

turning 20 in a different country.

Tuesday's class was cancelled, yay! Monday night  a few   international kids went out to celebrate- two girls were turning the big 21!  We stayed until midnight to ring in my 20th birthday as well, which was very nice. My friends surprised me with birthday presents which was  sweet & thoughtful.  ( a TON of chocolate; they just know me so well )

Tuesday night we attended a Manchester United game which was absolutely amazing! My friend Amanda has been a die hard fan for years now, and this was her first time seeing a game live at the home stadium. . The  game atmosphere was just unreal.  We won 5-0 as well! I guess us Americans being there was a good luck charm :)

FINALLY I  had my first class (my parents were starting to wonder what they were actually paying for). a small class, only about 25-30 students, and all girls. We have about 50 minute classes back home, so sitting through a 2 hour lecture got a little tiring after awhile.  We only have 7 lectures for this class, then an individual paper and a group project for our grades  will be due  the beginning of May. This is  very different than the American school system. Tomorrow, I will have a field trip for one  class to look at 10 different venues in Manchester. , I am excited to see what my other classes have in store!

This Saturday, the international society is taking a trip to the North Lake District.   I am very excited for that! When my parents used to live in England, they always talked about how beautiful that area was.
Next week  Amanda & I are off to Amsterdam for 4 days!



Thanks to everyone who wished  me a happy birthdayl! I have been enjoying every second of this wonderful opportunity & can't wait for everything still to come.

Abby~

P R A Y I N G IS -

PRAYING IS
Like Breathing

There is a permanent connection between me and the God I serve-

Praying is

[for me]

N O R M A L

[like breathing]

Praying is
Healthy

Praying is
Sometimes talking aloud
Sometimes...not

Prayer is
Sometimes Quiet
Other times...desperate
Crying Out.
Sometimes Pleading
Other times just
Opening up, spilling out


Sometimes standing tall with arms outstretched toward the heavens
Other time kneeling, vulnerable
Or face down in total submission
Emptying one's self out
empty- defenseless-
though not defeated.

PRAYING  IS  NOT
routine
for an audience
to impress anyone
Not even God

Praying is Getting Real
Shedding layers of pretense

Praying
is Necessary..for God's children...for me

Sometimes
No words needed

Just breathing ...barely
And leaning softly into
my Creator

My Lord, really...

And H.E.R.E.'s Abby -

Well, I have finally made it to London!

A long & tiring trip but oh so exciting! Running off only 2 hours of sleep from a 6.5 hour flight, I started my adventure early Thursday morning.

We arrived at the hotel and explored a little before heading to a quick introduction orientation and dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, we wandered over to see Big Ben & The London Eye (no big deal or anything...). It was absolutely breathtaking to see these landmarks live and in person; especially because they were lit up since it was nighttime. The architecture was so stunning!

After taking only a few (hundred) pictures, we decided to take "The Tube" (metro/subway) back to the hotel. Our advisor had told us we would never need to go out of Zones 1/2 when taking the Tube. Well, we missed our stop and having lived in DC, I figured that it would circle its way back to the stop again. Well, about 35 minutes later we end up in a deserted Zone 5 which was so far out of town with no one around and no one else on the Tube. Luckily, Amanda found a lady who was able to help guide us back on and tell us which stop to take. All in all, a quick 10 minute Tube right took an hour and a half. I guess you live & you learn.

Friday primarily orientation and learning about England & what school will be like in Manchester. One thing I have learned here is that the drivers are RUTHLESS. They do NOT yield to pedestrians & I am pretty sure they do not know how to use their brakes. If you're in the street and the light isn't green to walk, you will most likely get hit. Luckily for me, they have spray painted on the pavement to either "look right" or "look left" since it is opposite from what I am used to.

Introducing Abby-

Introducing my new young friend Abby who has just landed [literally] on London soil to begin a five month long adventure in education, history, travel and who knows what else she will devour from her temporary new home. 

>Hello! My name is Abby Koch and I am a junior at East Carolina University. I am currently studying abroad in England at the University of Manchester. I will be here until mid June! This is my first time abroad and I am so excited to share my experiences with you! My current home is Montgomery, AL but I work in Troy, AL at the Chick Fil A . I have been there for about 3 years and I LOVE working there. Although it is just a quick service restaurant, I love meeting and talking to all the people who pass through each day. Growing up with my dad in the military has given me a big passion to travel! I would love to just travel the world and meet so many different types of people. I hope you enjoy the moments I share with you!   

- Introducing a New Guest Blogger SOON ~

Sure, it's a teaser to grab your attention but you will discover there is more truth than fiction here.

Another Kind of Christmas This Year~

Costa Rica at Christmastime

2015

The plans, the motivation, relationships, new friends, new faces, challenges, smiles, hugs & ahhhhhh yes, the stories.

Let's flash back to November and Sunday morning worship service at FBC/ Troy, Alabama.  Music can be so much more than pleasant to the senses-the Holy Spirit can use our worship time to nudge and direct our thinking.  As we sang praises that morning there was a three way conversation going on in my head-God was prompting-Yes you need to go to Costa Rica, the Holy Spirit was whispering "Yes, Yes"- again and again just simple words- Costa Rica, yes, yes....and just as real my husband Ted cheering in the background "Do it Jonell, stop talking about it-just do it."  That was settled by the time Pastor Luke began his message -no more discussion.  D.O.N.E

The Faces...The Stories

Don't Assume Anything-

About post Christmastime progress-No the storage containers have not made it to the attic yet!  My excuse is they just won't climb those stairs.

I hope I have never misled you-giving you cause to think I am that kind of Gramma, promptly making order  from the chaos on January first.

Handmade Candles thanks to the creative thoughtfulness of

the youngest Grand daughter [ zoom in:  "Around the world

and back again"  ATWABA

Okay, the real scoop -

the ugly truth this January 2016:

The tree I so love, is still up in the living room.  The lights [on a copper thread/wire] are still twinkling wound into the mantle décor. The tabletop trees placed strategically in the dining room, spare bedrooms and even kitchen and computer room [a very tiny one here].  The dining room tablescape has not changed yet though I suspect I will only remove Christmas décor leaving the old bottles to make do or inspire me for a transitional table scene. 

Oh mygoodnessme....I have spent too few hours sitting here this season...So much work and too little time soaking it in- this can be the very best time and space for pondering, meditating, praying, quiet rejoicing..

Confession:  I did not handle this well for 2015-not discouraging though it gets me started with an early to-do LIST -plans, goals -reminders not resolutions!

Let's move on:  It will get done when it gets done-quoting my children; "It is what it is."

Looking ahead  note that I have some incredible things to share with you as this new year begins..as I get it together I will share Pictures and stories from our Costa Rica Mission trip [ First Baptist Church, Troy,Alabama ] in December then perhaps you will empathize.  Maybe not, nonetheless, I look forward to sharing My reason for Costa Rica...part of that story goes way back to the 1950's.

Our family has a Wedding on the 2016 calendar, a high school graduation, some travel and of course with all the Grands & our Mr. Lincoln [Great Grand] there will continue to be happenings & blessings to share as appropriate.

Looking Forward- Still

2016

Jonell

A Work in Progress-Still

"The Rest of the Story"

(Not really- just another chapter-perhaps a single paragraph but The Rest of the Story sounds so clever -thanks, Paul Harvey )

I often look back - consider the present,

seeing  how perfectly ordered and complete

the Seasons of my life have been.

I almost said: "have come together"

but  that would sound like something accidentally falling into place.

 I don't see my life that way. 

The Seasons of my life:

Coming to Christ at 8 years old

The Cinderella Years

Finding Our Way- More Stumbling than Climbing

Milestones 1982-Teaching-Maturing

The Texas Years-

( Time for the Flowers- )

Our Miracle Years 1983- 2006

Home Wrapped Around Us-

Another Season

of Beauty-

Contentment-

Front Porch Prayers, Making 'pretty' and comfortable all around us.

July 2006- August 18, 2013

A New Chapter

"Table for One"

Did God forget or ignore anything?

Amazing-

He Thought of Everything-

Gave us every season we needed or dreamed of and even more!

He allowed time for stumbling, failing and detours-

And never forgot the nurturing, encouraging do overs-

Our God wanted us to have the mountain top experiences -

That inevitably drew us closer to Him-

Especially after the dark orValley times.

And While we waited often not patiently for answers

He never turned loose ...held us closely, never letting go

While he shaped and molded us.

And He knew how to throw a Party to Celebrate...Victories.

Ah, looking back at all the Surprise Parties He

Planned & Orchestrated for us

An ever present reminder of His Faithfulness

All the While

He Knew, He Knew

Looking Forward-Again,

A Child of the King

Not About Presents But His Presence ~

 Yes, Yes, that 9 foot tree is  D.O.N.E....For all the seasons since 2006 I have continued to be on the hunt -in season & out- for a FEW MORE perfect ornaments that fit my Silver, Gold, Clear Glass & White O.N.L.Y...(No others-no red, green, blue etc) Some were significantly Vintage...a few verging on antique..others 21st century, handmade or a bit of age qualifies them.

Ah, yes - so many Christmastime memories especially when you've had a life so long as mine. So many I cannot share a post that captures them.

This post won't be finished today...believe that! It's already becoming scrambled eggs in my head. Consider the childhood memories..the simple, often sad lessons learned memories of times so different than now. That's called HISTORY...my history.

Then there are the theme Christmas memories..the hard times when giving is in your heart but never in your pocket book,remember any of those?

I always...I mean always have loved to be the GIVER. One great thing about this season of my life is I am NOT caught up in the traditional Christmas gifting of the past..

How I wish as a child I had the influence of this age of creativity-had I known how to make something from nothing and pick up bundles & pieces of God's creation and repurpose it as I do now...oh well that was then..the beauty & the gifts were of a different kind.

In another era the fresh fruit from Florida filled us with joy and thankfulness..and the candy canes were delightful.  The Raisins [grapes dried on the vines] made a lifetime memory for my husband to cherish.

I shall always remember the family gatherings when a daughter in law or the Grands  ransacked my closets, drawers to find scarves, ties, robes, towels or fabric pieces to dress themselves for their own production of the Christmas Story-the Bible story of Jesus' birth.  The most recent featured our great grandson Lincoln as the baby Jesus.

While it is not a gift but a memory there is very little more precious to me than the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church and also setting out luminaries along our side walk during the season. 

Remember, we began with the statement that it

[Christmas] is not about presents but His Presence?

100 Reasons It's No Fun Decorating A Christmas Tree Alone ~

And At Least 10 Good Reasons For Doing It Anyway

Wait, put that 'mouse' down- don't leave and go to  Susan's

Blog at Between Naps On the Porch blog

Yes, I know she's a busy blogger, world traveler, decorator, photographer-
Wait - Are we talking about

Ree Drummond the Pioneer Woman?-
(You know, the one who dropped off all her pretty dishes in Wal Mart)

copied

I know, I know they do it all and get every table set and every tree decorated,
plan their holiday menu to perfection..

You don't hear them whining about not being able to get this year's Christmas Tree done.

I  K.N.O.W  T.H.A.T

But this is me-

Jonell

the Gramma that lives at the homemade blog called

Like Gramma's House

and occasionally dropping by at

Shades of White

and every once in a blue moon she remembers her starter blog

Down the Lane

Yes this is just me-Not a superwoman entrepreneur or blogger with a zillion followers-

This mere human trying to shuffle through the new life I am now navigating

is still basically in kindergarten-

Praise the Lord -ANYWAY!

 OR YOU TAKE A SHORT NAP

AND A LUNCH BREAK

WHAT DO YOU DO...

You are trying to replace your dream stove-this is the 3rd try-

The Delivery is in the store ready to be picked up.

It just happens to be the best day for the two sons in the same city to pick it up and deliver it to my house- an hour away.

How terrific!

I am getting excited-

Prepared.

Of course I'm not waiting to have them move things around in the breakfast room

and kitchen

I CAN DO THIS.

Grab a large thick bath towel and slip it under all fours legs of the pie safe type cabinet-

Slip that table in the breakfast room back about 12 inches

Remove the breakables  and the scales hanging in the way

It's DONE...Ready-Set-...wait

Not long now.

NEWS FLASH:

THE STOVE-

is DEFECTIVE-FROM THE FACTORY-Not damaged in transporting -

the third one I have been willing to accept as a replacement for MY perfect stove

[Okeefee & Merritt gas range from about 1950]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOkay

hit the PAUSE KEY...

Reset to: FLEXIBLE

Then just decide to LET IT GO!

FAST FORWARD TWO DAYS TO FRIDAY-

The dew is all gone from the grass in the yard -the perfect time to get that

YARD DONE TODAY

No problems with the mower-

The handy dandy son who can fix everything brought back the air compressor-repaired

All I have to do is put some more air in that front mower tire that keeps sharing it's air

with the outdoors I guess

Anyway it must have more air.

I'm ready to start being proud to get this yard in shape, looking good and be able to say:

I DID THAT!

Not so fast-

have key....that's all I have

IS IT A DEAD BATTERY?

NO SOUND, NOT EVEN A WHISPER WHEN I TURN THAT KEY IN THE IGNITION...

Not even a w h i s p e r-

We agree these things are usually some very simple problem right?

Not for ME!!

NOT TODAY-NOT THIS WEEK-

After touching base with the Mr. Fix It...wise counsel..

I CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION:

Sometimes it's just a good idea to stop and Take a little....

short NAP.

aND MAYBE A LUnCH BREaK!!

SOMETIMES referred to as having a hissy fit....

or threatening to run away from home...

or just plain

HIdING OUT IN THE MIddLE OF

D E N I A L..

PRETENDING

If I just ignore this it will go away..

or Fix itself!

The lunch I ran away from home for

While in a state called DENIAL...didn't look like THIS..

It looked more like a BLT-toasted-add your own mayo

[white bread b/c we're out of whole wheat]

& Why did they butter this bread before toasting

[the ticket clearly read-no butter on bread-I checked]

And the Soup- Vegetable Soup that seemed a bit like

Brunswick Stew..

But that's okay-really

The French Fries looked like-uhhhhhhhhh

Actually there were none...even though it was clearly noted on the ticket-

But- that's okay too-

I didn't need to eat fries

 Again I would have enjoyed it more if my

Water w/ Lemon

Had been mineral water-

can't have it if they don't have any.

TRULY

I am not really this difficult and persnickety-

It's just on Wednesdays & Fridays

Everything crumbles apart.

Again that's not entirely a bad thing..

It gave me something to share with you & allow you to either feel sorry for me,

laugh at another old lady or just

Sit there shaking your head -bewildered and asking;

Why am I reading this?

I AM GLAD YOU ARE-

Insert  S M I L E   here~

ALMOST as Much As My Own -

Yes, I Do Like This Porch Scene

Almost as Much as My Own

Let's All Go Visit-

Something Tells Me The

WELCOME MAT

Is out-Let's Go!

http://sweetteaandsavinggraceblog.com/2015/11/join-me-for-sweetteascopes-on-periscope.

This Is Me -

*Editorial Note:  I have no idea what's going on with my pictures-have to put that on my 'to do' list-

R e a l l y-

This is Me!

Don't get your hopes up-

[You Know that Grammas are boring]

I'm Sharing Today With  Jann Olson-Come With Me!

http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2015/10/share-your-cup-thursday-171.html

On the outside chance some of you have been holding your breath to see a post like this on Like Gramma's House-here goes:

• Rainy Days...with occasional rumblings of distant thunder-
• Overcast days, leaves barely fluttering falling randomly On days like that one gets to down shift....hit the pause button...move to an 'on hold' folder all the important things that had to be done or happen that day. L A T E R Y'all!
• Wild things blooming in the ditches alongside the highways & country roads. NEWS FLASH -It's a good thing when the rag weed starts filling the ditches...because the GOLDENROD shows up and what a way to brighten up things. Why would anyone pay for Goldenrod when God has arranged for it in such abundance all around [unless you live in dead center of a metropolitan area and never leave the city...in that case "bless your heart."]

Oh my Lord,

Creator of all that was,

is or ever will be..

How I am loving all the natural beauty around me....Natural things for a multitude of uses, practical and decorative or ornamental...gourds, loofas, gnarly bare branches, cones from trees of all kinds, magnolia, pine, oak whatever. Huge beautifully shaped pine cones and let's not forget the

Acorns...the little ones from my back yard are okay but then I drool over the great big acorns from [I think it's called] a White Oak tree. The last time someone gifted me with a bag of these I made them last at least 15 years...where have they gone?

Of course the tiny, tiny little cones from trees in Maine that I have only seen once in my life..cones the size of my 'little pinky finger nail."  What a thrill when after asking my family in Maine at the time to send me some they actually did send me a package of those amazing teeny tiny cones.  I must look for some pictures .

Doesn't Everyone Get Excited Over Driftwood?

Driftwood  from along the beaches.....or make believe driftwood  from down by the creek....with beautiful curly, ruffly things growing on one side.  So would you say that Nature really speaks to my soul???/   No!  it's not simply nature.  It's Creation...and the Creator who speaks to my innermost being...that would be Soul, right?  I think so. 

Just Ask Me About Christmastime

I adore Christmastime..O Holy Night -  blue lights in [only] the house windows..or if you are blessed with a husband who would try to make anything happen that you asked him to do..blue lights secured around the Star atop the old 1900ish  barn in Texas. blue lights like the picture we have in our heads anyway, of the star of Bethlehem.

And I will always remember the outdoor scenes with cold weather, a fire to warm by and people from the community gathering to watch the live presentation of the Christmas Story- in Crossett, Arkansas

All Clear Lights...everywhere, everywhere...don't know when I graduated from the carnival lights of [childhood] Red and Blue and Green and Yellow perhaps it was around the time I left the foil icicles behind in the after Christmas throw away bags..Oh but it's a good thing..no more icicles to toss and bicker over the correct way to get them hung on the tree. 

Giving...Gifting...I think I knew I  had become a grown up when without a doubt I loved giving more than the receiving of gifts at Christmastime.

I don't look forward to gifts but the giving to others.  Could that possibly come from those

times as a child when I [thought] had nothing to give? 

If I had been surrounded with all the creativity as a child that surrounds my life now...what fun I could have had with the discovering, the creating, the presentation [ even gift wrapping] .

But it makes for wonderful real time, present day story telling- recalling everyone's version of those tacky old ice cicles...Mom was always the only one who knew how it should be done...ending with each and every foil strip hanging neatly alone...not tossed by the handfuls  willy nilly fashion with each toss forming a nasty little mess - yes little nests of a mess of foil icicles. ...

I wonder if someone is now listing those things on a Pinterest Board labelled Repurposed Christmas Decorations of the past.

Annnnnd..

FAMILY

Country Life-

Country Living-The Real Thing

Just a guess but I will go out on a short limb and say this house pictured could be 100 years old-likely a bit more. If these pictures and bits southern historical trivia catch your interest see more on Face Book /Grits & Gravy

Source-Found on Face book Grits & Gravy /

Check the www.address in bottom right corner for the person who submitted the photo

I lived in houses just like this growing up in the rural south Georgia area in the 1940's and 1950's-

Many years later it was like a dream come true [ strange as it may sound] that my husband and I were able to buy a very large farm in Southeast Texas with a 1906 dog trot farmhouse where we lived for 13 years pouring all our creative energy, and lots of as we say 'sweat' into making that farmhouse into what was sometimes described as a museum.

Who Do We Follow?

About Who We Readily Follow As Bloggers

And What We Model For Those Following us

[In our everyday lives or on the printed pages of our blogs]

Do you remember this song as a very young child?

"Oh, be careful little ears what you hear,

Be careful little eyes what you see,

Be careful little mouth what you say......"

[and always ending with-]

'"For the Father up above,

Is watching down in love...."