Everyday Living – Page 197

Be Still…

August 18, 2016~ Everyday Living, Faith, Outdoors

…and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10

Sometimes life just gets loud. There are deadlines to meet, to-do lists that never end, and chores that must be done before we can lay our head on our pillow at night. The demands of our everyday living seem to never end. And they leave us longing for something more…

…for a time of quiet, of peace…and of rest. Do you ever long to escape the noise of this life…to turn down the volume or even silence it completely?

Have you ever been so busy doing that you miss out on just being?

I have desperately needed a time of quiet, a time to escape. Over the past few days, I have set aside time to seek to have a quiet heart…to listen to His still small voice in the midst of a crazy and loud world…

….to just be still, and know…that He is God and that He is in control.

The World’s Longest Yard Sale

August 8, 2016~ Everyday Living, Travel

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭

Every year when the first weekend in August rolls around, people travel from all over to my neck of the woods with one thing in mind: a good bargain! If you love antiquing or vintage items, then you probably know about the World’s Longest Yard Sale that starts here in Gadsden, Alabama and goes all the way to Addison, Michigan. Imagine miles and miles (690 to be exact) of treasures…it’s a true junker’s paradise!

You can find everything from galvanized washtubs to vintage Pyrex dishes to old furniture just waiting on that coat of chalk paint! Of course it wouldn’t be a real yard sale if there weren’t knick-knacks from a McDonald’s Happy Meal, old shoes with the soles barely intact, and junk that absolutely no one on earth would want, but hey! I figured it would be a little more fun for you, my readers, to see it through the lens of a camera than to actually have to brave the heat and the traffic…so come on folks, let’s go yardsalin’!

Have you been looking for that architectural statement for your front yard? Look no further!

The World’s Longest Yard Sale is on top of the latest decorating trends!

A Princess Comes To Town

May 23, 2016~ Everyday Living, Faith

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers”
Proverbs 17:6

Do you ever find yourself anxiously waiting for something?

Probably so. Waiting is such a part of our everyday living. Waiting for the weekend, for the light to turn green, for payday, for a vacation to start, or countless other things we could list. Some waits are for minor things, but others are for major life changing events that will alter the very core of our being forever.

One of those waits was finally over for us when we looked into the face of a little girl who changed our world. This is what happens when…

A Princess Comes to Town…

We’ve discussed it all…from her nursery, to the sweetest shower, to Pam’s grandmother name, and the day is here for us to finally share…

It is with great joy and excitement that we announce the birth of Ella Mae, born May 12! This 9 pound bundle of love has stolen our hearts!

The emotions and feelings that surrounded the day were so different than anything we’ve experienced before. It was our first grandchild. This was definitely new territory for us. We’re talking grandparents – and at our young ages!!

Her birth also instantly triggered things in our memories that took us back over 30 years. We shared some of that experience in a post (Miracles and Mangers) on Seth’s 29th birthday.

All of God’s creation is incredible and indescribable. There aren’t enough adjectives. We can see Him everywhere. While sitting in the waiting room anxious for news from Seth about Ella Mae, a thought hit me that I wanted to share with Seth. Sometimes technology is overrated and it frustrates, but we do live in a time when a Grand “Da”, sitting in the waiting room, can text a Dad, who is in labor and delivery preparing to assist. Allison was not interested in texting at this moment so no group message!

There are many ways we can sense God’s presence and be aware of His nearness. We can all be thankful for this. I sent a text to Seth which summed up something I felt back on that December day in 1985. It went something like…..

Humanly speaking I don’t believe there is any time that one can feel closer to God while on this earth than when we are experiencing and witnessing the birth of a child.

Even through the stress and labor we prayed that Seth and Allison would sense the closeness of the Heavenly Father as never before in the midst of this wonderful event. And we believe they did! There is no miracle to compare with new life. A child being born. Flesh of your flesh. And, there is no greater miracle of God’s love and Grace than a child being born…again. The second time by the Spirit.

It’s a fact that many will not actually witness a child being born, but all of us are here because of this miracle of miracles. We are all born once by the flesh. We are all invited to be born a second time by the Spirit. The second birth makes one a child of God.

Talk about closeness!