landed

For all who have been asking,

The plane on top of the bookcases has landed 

permanently.

How fitting after a 42 year career in the

United States Air Force

that a plane

should hold a prominent place in our home.

I know it is quirky...

a little different from my norm,

but,

that's me.

I like to shake things up a little bit.

I am thankful tonight for forgiveness,

for unmerited grace,

for no condemnation,

and for the unconditional love of my Savior

Jesus Christ.

love this, baby girl.....

Lucy took this picture on our dolphin cruise,

We all were amazed!

She was sitting in the back corner of the boat

when this guy started surfing the wake.

He came up right beside her.

I think we have another budding

photographer.

She got so excited when she saw what she had gotten.

We are going to get Erika to send this off to a really good print shop,

and then I will have it framed for her.

I think we will photoshop out the marker sign.

There is nothing like being out on a boat in the salt water

speeding along and taking in God's wonders.

God has been very kind 

to let me live near the coast for most of my life.

Salt Air ~ Its in my blood.

chosen to pray and tell others about Jesus

"The greatest evangelists this world has ever known 

have been men 

who have believed in

 the sovereign free election of God.

Let us not forget that!

*(Election essentially means that God chooses us

rather than us choosing God)

Two of the greatest evangelists that England ever produced have been

 George Whitfield and Charles Haddon Spurgeon,

 and they both preached and believed in

 unconditional election.

They said that no man is saved

 unless God has chosen him and set him apart for Himself.

(The doctrine of Romans 9)

Yet,

they were indefatigable evangelists,

urging men and women

 to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The same can be said of others in other countries.....

Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland in Wales,

Jonathan Edwards in America,

Samuel Davies, the writer of many hymns,

and David Brainerd,

 who evangelized the Indians.

All these men held this high doctrine of election,

but they were untiring in their 

evangelism 

and their praying.

But here is another interesting thing.....

The founders of the great missionary enterprise,

the modern missionary movements,

were all men who held to this high doctrine of Romans 9.

William Carey believed that if someone was saved 

it was the purpose of God, 

and yet he was in so many senses 

the father 

of the modern missionary movement."

Martyn L. Jones

Romans ~ Saving Faith

The sovereignty of God

and prayer and evangelism go hand in hand.

He knows ~ I don't.

God told us to pray.

He also told us to tell others about Jesus.

All He asks of us is to obey.

grammies just wanna have fun

We were over at Hilton Head.

It was January......

freezing cold.

I had just slid down that sliding board.

Erika snapped the picture.

She calls it

"The perfect landing.

as I said,

Grammies just wanna have fun!

dolphin magic

Lucy and I along with Trish and Nathan

took a two hour boat cruise

on the

Savannah River this afternoon.

It was an incredible ride!

We saw so many dolphins playing and swimming

in the water right outside of the boat.

I am always amazed to see God's creation

in the wild doing their magic.

This one was surfing in the wake of the boat.

Lucy got an even better picture

on her camera

of a dolphin racing along.

Thankful tonight to have been on the river,

in the salt air having fun

with friends.

house party

There is one thing Bubba and I never have....

a dull moment.

Yesterday,

Erika had gone to get Gus.

She met her parents half way to retrieve

that sweet little fella.

Harry B went with her.

David stayed home with Archie,

who is in his second week

after major surgery.

Lu had stayed home to

entertain the little patient.

Just like that their air conditioner fizzled out.

Now in Savannah, at the end of July,

one cannot even breathe without

conditioned air.

So they bundled Archie in the car

and came out here to our house

where mercifully

we still had air.

In the meantime,

Bubba and I got sheets on all the beds,

I did a quick bathroom touch up,

 he ran to the grocery store to get party supplies,

and we were ready.

Friends, it became a regular house party here.

Lucy helped me water the flowers.

She got soaking wet.

We had ice cream sundaes

while the men watched the Braves game.

There were people in beds everywhere.....

 A large amount of whooping and hollering was going on.

Erika, Harry, and Gus joined us late, 

when they got home from the road trip.

We hadn't seen Gus in almost two weeks....

there was much rejoicing over him.

He marched in the door and said,

"Hey Grammy...

Where's Granddaddy?"

That made Bubba's day!

I love impromptu house parties.

They are the absolute best!

I love the picture!

I love folk art!

I want to go to a house party like that!

That's Bubba and I sitting by the stream....

Amanda in the red polka dot dress.

Erika and David have their feet in the stream,

and Mark is toasting the dancers.

The kids are all in the house

except for Jake,

who is standing by the stream.

We are all drinking

lemonade.

*Archie survived.

They got the air back very late this afternoon.

just saying "hi" tonight

I am unusually tired this evening.

After cleaning all four bathrooms from top to bottom,

and working out in water aerobics

I am beat.

I will leave you with this poem...

Lucy quoted it to me

and I remembered it from my school teaching days.

It is by Shel Silverstein

from

A Light in the Attic

"There are too many kids in this tub,

Too many elbows to scrub.

I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine,

there are too many kids in this tub."

Lucy and I can laugh like there's no tomorrow.

I like the picture above.

I don't know why,

I just like it.

I think it is because Jake & Eli are in it.

Thanking God tonight for humor,

for somebody to laugh with,

for the love of our grandchildren.

the empty nest

It is strangely, eerily quiet here at #6.

All of our grandchildren

have gone home.

They come marching in,

 full of life 

and packed with energy.

They know that this home has a place for them.

A bed,

a room full of books and toys.

They know where the snacks are and the gum

and my candy stash.

They fill this place with

light,

and noise,

love, hugs and kisses,

joy,

laughter, and every now and then

tears.

They love grammy's big tub

that I fill with bubbles and water

up almost to the top.

They know where the ice cream is,

 and the cherries, 

and the chocolate shell.

We sit on the back porch every night 

and eat sundaes together.

We chat about everything,

we laugh hysterically.

We watch movies,

we see deer.

They are all home now,

back with their mom and dad.

But every so often this place becomes magical

with the minds of children.

Yes,

our nest has emptied again....

exactly as it should.

Until next time the back door opens

and they run it to get a big hug hello from

their grammy and granddaddy.

good news

At about six o'clock this afternoon,

Archie,

went home from the hospital

to get better at home.

He passed all of his tests and they let him go.

We are thankful

for the beautiful recovery he is making.

God has blessed,

He has answered prayer.

Lu, Harry, and I are all exhausted.

They are in the bed,

I will be there when I publish this blog.

Granddaddy 

will stay up a bit longer.

What a week this has been!

nite, nite,

cathy

strongly confident

These are definitely NOT from my garden.

The deer struck again last night with a particular vengeance.

Bubba keeps saying the word FENCE.

I will keeping hoping for that.

All is well with Lucy and Harry here at

granddaddy and grammy's house.

Archie was moved to his own room last evening.

They will try to sit him up today.

He is getting better!

Thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So many prayers going up...

so many answers coming down.

I will spend some one on one time with him today....:)

Here is a picture of the damaged van.

Bubba has been hammering away on it,

so it is not as bad looking as it was.

"In the fear of the Lord

there is strong confidence,

and His children will have a place of refuge."

Proverbs 14:26

Are we "strongly confident" in the Lord this morning?

quick update

Not having much time to post

I will get off this short greeting this morning.

Archie's is doing well,

making progress,

but he is in a lot of pain.

He has to lay on his side and stay virtually immobile.

I stayed with him for a short time yesterday.

I saw anguish in his beautiful eyes.

Please continue to pray.

Lu and I were in a minor wreck yesterday.

We were at Fresh Market getting some fruit,

and we backed out at the same time that another car was backing out.

We crashed and damaged our vans,

but no one was hurt.

Needless to say,

the stress level is high for all of us.

Again,

 thank you all for praying and holding our family close.

Love to all,

cathy

archie's surgery.....

......was a huge success!

He was taken back at 7:15 this morning,

and the doctor came out this afternoon at 4:15 to give us the good report.

The surgery was long and tedious....

lots of things needed to be corrected and put in the right place.

He weathered it all well

and came out smiling.

There will be lots of recuperation ahead,

but the surgery,

the awful, dreaded surgery is over.

Hurray!!!!

We give God our thanks.

The doctors and nurses as well.

We take a deep breath and breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank you for you prayers!

Please continue praying for this little guy from China

who we all love so much.

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

archie's surgery

Tomorrow,

very early in the morning,

little Archie will have his surgery.

It is major; five to eight hours hours.

Please pray!

Pray for the doctors and the nurses,

for this sweet little boy,

for David and Erika and Lucy, Harry, and Gus,

for all of us who are loving the other kids throughout this ordeal.

These are trying times,

but these times are in God's competent hands.

He is the great healer.

Archie was chosen by God to be a part of our family.

So we wait, we hope, we pray.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will direct your path."

Proverbs 3: 5&6

back to mom and dad

The house is a different place without these boys.

They had to go home today.

We drove down to St. Augustine to meet

Amanda and Mark...

to hand them off once again.

This was my world for the last week....

pool,

Grammy are we there yet?

IPad

pool

Grammy can we go get Jersey's Pizza today?

pool

50 brand new colored markers

Grammy, can we watch a movie while we rest?

CHICK FIL A

Grammy, please can we please get up at 6:26 AM

pool

KRISPY KREAM DONUTS

Legos

Target

pool,

and, to top it all off

 a talking purple minion.

They are growing and changing

and only getting better.

Today Amanda brought me a big, beautiful gift bag

containing this frame

and these milk chocolate non-pariels.

All this and a week with the boys.

A grammy couldn't ask for more than this.

just for fun

This picture just cracks me up.

I really don't know why.

I think its the look on Jake's face.

These are adult cousins celebrating the 

Fourth of July.

I don't have any time to write...

too many boys to take care of.

but,

I can share some pictures along.

Keep our little Archie in your prayers.

His surgery is on Monday morning here in Savannah.

Thanking God tonight for 

Bubba's

good report from the doctor,

for the rain,

and

for the amazing love of two little boys.

sewing camp

This is our precious granddaughter Lucy.

She is eight years old.

She bears my maiden name.

I love her so much.

God was so gracious to give her to all of us.

This week she is at sewing camp.

That is her very own sewing machine in front of her.

She is having a ball,

learning to use her machine,

sewing, 

crafting, 

and making new friends.

Every day after camp,

we walk around the shop looking at fabric

and all the other sewing notions.

One day, maybe,

she will be a great seamstress.

My grandmother,

Hodie,

made clothes for many of the women of Savannah.

She sewed bridal gowns,

and costumes for dance recitals.

She made my clothes,

copied dresses from "Fines" downtown.

What a gift from God sewing is.

"She seeks wool and flax

and willingly works with her hands.

Her hand holds the spindle.

All her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself.

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She makes garments and sells them,

and supplies sashes for the merchants."

Proverbs 31

Yes a women who knows how to sew

is a treasure.

hooray for the red, white, and blue

Here is the latest picture of our six grandchildren.

This was taken on July 4th.

They are growing,

learning,

talking

swimming,

singing,

golf cart riding,

eating,

balls of energy.

They start early and go late.

When they fall into bed,

so do I.

Bubba and I are at the start....

keeping Jake and Eli this week,

and next week keeping Lucy and Harry

while Archie has his surgery.

All I have to say is 

Wow!

It takes a lot of prayer and energy

on our part.

My prayer for all of them....

"Acquire wisdom!

Acquire understanding!

Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;

Love her, and she will watch over you."

Proverbs 4:5

Read His word....

It is there you will receive wisdom and understanding.

All of life is explained.

living free in america....

Thank you God for our freedom,

for our families,

for being able to celebrate

ALL

that You have given to us.

happy 4th of July everybody

It's too late to write...

gotta get to bed.

It was the best one yet!

they're almost here

The last text,

(yes I text now and love it)

was from St. Augustine.

Thinking they'll be here around 5:00.

It's now quarter to four.

Thankfully,

I am feeling better.

A summer cold caught me off guard

and has made me feel rotten for a couple of days.

But,

today,

I am better for sure!

Amanda injured the muscle in her calf

in one of her classes on 

Monday night.

She will need a little time to recuperate too,

so we will do it together.

Looks like Arthur the hurricane

will pass us by far out to sea.

Was hoping for a little rain,

but....

no.

Until we get this monster of a pine tree 

in our yard taken down,

we don't need a 

major blow.

The tree man said that if it falls,

it will fall directly on top of our neighbor's house.

So,

we are going to remove that possibility.

I see you guys coming down the highway...

see you in a few.

about amanda

First of all.....

I have to tell Amanda's lizard story

here on my blog.

It was late Sunday afternoon.

She had washed a load of towels from their visit to the beach.

Upon hearing that the washer had stopped,

she went merrily

 to put them in the dryer.

Lifting the lid,

she observed sitting on the top of the load,

a lizard,

smiling at her.

He was missing his tail and a tad bloody,

but alive.

Taking after her mom,

she ran hysterically in to get Mark

who retrieved the poor guy

and set him free.

How in the world did that lizard survive the wash cycle?

We will never know.

The bad thing was....

the lizard tail was left in the load of towels

that were washed again, of course.

Hopefully it went down the drain and won't turn up again.

She and the boys are coming for a visit this week.

I cannot wait!

There is nothing like Amanda time.

Hurry up and get here!

Jake and Eli, we'll be waiting!