dinner on the grounds

Hope Bible Church

Wesley Gardens

Savannah, Georgia

I've never seen such a spread of all things Mexican.

There's nothing like a group of Christians gathered to eat before 

the worship service.

David, Joey, Matt and others.

Tony and Mikaela.

Archie and Walt.

Rad serving up some Queso.

Gus and friends.

Pretty Millie in her blue dress.

More fellowshipping!

Harry our climber.

Walt and Mabrey.

Two sweet faces.

After we ate we sang and heard God's word proclaimed.

It was high tide in the river behind the little chapel.

Such a beautiful place.

When the service was over we signed the parchment as founding members of 

Hope Bible Church.

To God be the Glory great things He has done!

Come join us next week.

10:00.

We would love to have you.

six months after

I saw my cancer doctor today.

He couldn't find any sign of a recurrence of the disease.

He said that my taste/dry mouth may not ever be what it was "before,"

but, that I can "have hope" that it will get better than it is now.

He praised my recovery.

Casey, my navigator nurse, said that she appreciated my "sweet spirit"

throughout the ordeal.

I love the above Spurgeon quote.

God keeps His own as His special treasure.

If there was any sweet spirit in me it came from His Spirit shining through.

He gave me courage to face each new day.

When I couldn't eat or drink He sustained me.

When I couldn't speak He heard my silent cries for mercy.

He sent angels to take care of me.

He encouraged people from far and wide to pray for me.

I was quiet but never alone.

I was sad but not despairing.

I was sinking but never overwhelmed.

All of my doubts and fears were quieted by Him.

My recovery continues.

I am getting better every day.

I thank my family for their patience.

It hasn't been easy for them but they have hung in there with me.

Our God is full of mercy and grace.

He heals our diseases,

He lifts our thoughts and praises to Himself.

I am full of thanksgiving and praise! 

randon shots ~ end of summer

Our Lu is playing volleyball this year for 

Veritas Academy.

Every time I look at her she seems to have grown taller.

She is in seventh grade this year.

She stays very busy with school and various activities.

It's one thing to have grown children.

It's another thing entirely when your grandchildren

are growing up so quickly.

David was in Atlanta last week teaching a men's conference.

He took Harry.

Harry caught this huge fish.

This one loves the big outdoors.

I doubt he will ever forget this catch.

This is Walter aka Lei Lei.

He is posing in the Gap.

He loved this hat.

This one marches to the beat of a different drum.

Grandkids are so much fun!

Thanking God this afternoon for all 7of them.

My always, everyday prayer

is that He will call each of them to be His in Christ,

That He would put His spirit in their hearts and their minds,

That they would love God with all their heart,

That nothing would be more important to them than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thankful that God hears and answers our prayers.

another wonderful weekend

It's always a great day when Amanda is here.

The talk is non-stop.

We get in some shopping.

Of course, lots of laughing.

I am so glad that God gave me a daughter.

They left to go back to South Florida early this morning.

I have never seen such a fully packed vehicle.

There was not a spare inch for one more tiny little thing.

What with the cat,

the litter box,

the groceries,

the many purchases,

the boys,

their backpacks,

electronic devices,

water bottles,

and snacks,

there was no room left.

I've never been so glad to get that text that said

"HOME."

Oh by the way,

this is what happens 

when your eleven year old grandson

 is let loose with your camera....

House feels empty, quiet.

Until the next time...

new kitty

This is Sirius Black.

He is the Hollingsworth's new kitty cat.

As most of you know,

Norman Hollingsworth met an unexpected demise earlier in the summer.

Sirius has taken his place.

They look very much alike, but their personalities are quite different.

Mark's sister's son Caleb

 has been at Parris Island since June doing his basic training to become a

 United States Marine.

 Mark and Amanda, Jake and Eli,

came up this weekend to be a part of his induction ceremony.

Sirius is here with us for the first time.

Jake and Eli's cousin Caleb is a Marine!

Earlier this morning 

he proceeded to take a swipe 

at a bird nest full of plastic eggs 

and an alabaster bird sitting on a low shelf of my foyer table.

 I thought he looked ashamed, 

but a friend said it looked to her like he was 

"plotting his next move." 

I think the friend has the better explanation of this picture.

I can only find one of the little green eggs.

This one's a special little guy.

He is playful.

He sticks close to me,

and naps a lot.

He is still a bit skittish,

but will also come and sit close when I'm reading.

I love to see the sun shining through his ears.

God created the animals for all different reasons.

Thanking Him this morning for this little one.

when God turns the ocean pink

"To Him be the glory

In heaven and earth.

All of creation

Is shouting His worth.

The saints and the angels

All live to proclaim

The wonderful story,

The glorious Name."

Look and See

Praising God this afternoon.

Thanking Him that I have eyes to see His wondrous works,

Ears to hear the songs of praise sung by His people,

A mind to understand His word.

For all these things I am so richly blessed.

We sang Look and See in church on Sunday morning.

It resonated throughout the tiny little chapel by the river.

There is nothing to compare with joining together to worship with other believers.

To God be the glory great things He has done.

Hope Bible Church

Meeting at Wesley Gardens ~ Savannah Georgia

10:00

September 23, 2018

Come join us.

happy birthday harry ~ 11

Harry turned eleven yesterday.

What a joy this boy is!

We had a big party with games and gifts and lots of food.

He chose broccoli~chicken casserole,

rice, 

corn-on-the-cob

and coca-cola cake for dessert.

He told his dad after a bike ride yesterday,

"We are going to the best restaurant in town for my birthday dinner."

That was the biggest compliment his grammy & granddaddy could ever get.

For games we did a spoon ~ egg race around the house,

a memory game,

the all exciting shell game,

and pick-a-seat.

Everyone received prizes amid the hilarity and fun.

I love this newly minted eleven year old

birthday boy!

Just before opening gifts is the most exciting time!

🎁

Three boys from three different countries.

God brought them together to share the common bond of brotherhood...

to live in a family together,

to grow up together. 

Every time I look at them I am filled with wonder and thanksgiving.

I love you Harry B.

Your smile makes my heart happy!

Thanking God that He brought you into my life.

My world wouldn't be the same without you!!!

amelia island plantation ~ 3

Sea oats, clouds, blue sky.

There is nothing like living right on the ocean.

So much to see, smell, feel.

It's invigorating.

This fencing on the beach doesn't keep the high tides out,

but they do protect the dunes from washing away.

I think they are aesthetically pleasing.

They in no way detract from the beauty of the beach.

A sampling of some shells I found on my walks.

I love the black ones ~ unusual.

Every walk is a treasure hunt.

Tiny treasures.

Stairway to paradise.

So much to explore.

So much to be thankful for.

We lived on Beach Walker Road.

I knew it would be a perfect place to stay.

I was reading in the Psalms this morning.

I came across this verse and smiled.

"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree."

Psalm 92:12

All who believe in Jesus are considered righteous.

It's not because of anything we did.

We are righteous because of what He did on the cross for us.

I just love reading His word and being reminded of the truth.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there were oak trees everywhere.

Gnarled and bent from years of relentless ocean winds,

they were eerily and mystically beautiful.

Here is the setting sun peeking through the branches.

One last parting shot and I'll be done.

You can see the twisted trunk clearly.

This looks kinda like the hole that Winnie the Poo lived in in the

Hundred Acre Wood.

Life consists of wonderful times and precious memories.

These pictures that I share (since 2007) are my memories.

I hope you all enjoy.

hurricane insanity

Here we go again.

Pure craziness!

There is a hurricane in the Atlantic on a beeline for the coast of the United States

and the Governors and Mayors and City Officials

all the way from Virginia to Georgia have gone mad.

Granted,

the storm is huge and dangerous,

but really,

does everybody in those areas need to be advised to flee one week out?

One thing I do know from living on the coast all these years

is that hurricanes are unpredictable.

 One hardly ever blows in at the place where they are predicted to make landfall seven days out.

 Last night when I went to bed 

it looked like Florence would be going into North Carolina and then up into Virginia. 

This morning the cone of uncertainty had turned into an apostrophe 

and was headed our way here in Savannah.

I thought we were safe this time.

I guess it's the age of news overload,

superior graphics,

 too many chiefs, not enough worker bees.

Got to be the first to get the latest news scoop out.

Whatever happened to discretion...

waiting until we are more certain of the outcome.

As with all news...

way too much,

over the top,

many times not even accurate.

Is it any wonder that few take them seriously!

Sadly hurricanes are like the above.

No one knows what they will eventually do.

They are slow.

They take their time,

never get in a hurry.

But, I know who does know.

God.

"And they became very afraid and said to one another,

'Who then is this that even the  wind and the sea obey Him?' "

Mark 4:41

amelia island plantation ~ 2

This cute little sign was out on the front lawn of the condo.

It pointed the way to the beach.

I've always loved cute little signs.

😉

Rolling waves coming on to the shore.

Roaring waves....

they just kept coming and coming.

I kept watching and watching until I was mesmerized.

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

Beach flowers growing wild in the sand dunes.

Sand dunes, sea grass, low clouds, sea oats,

and the deep blue gray ocean.

Such beauty to behold.

I so much enjoyed photographing these masterpieces.

God's handiwork was everywhere.

The crescent moon was in the eastern sky every morning.

Before the sun came up I was able to study the moon.

God calls it "the lesser light."

Today I am thankful for the thunder.

It has been rumbling for over an hour.

No lightening, no rain, just thunder.

The sound of it reminds me of God's power,

His sovereignty,

His provision.

I am reading a book called

He Will Reign Forever

by Michael J. Vlach

It is a Biblical Theology of the Kingdom of God.

So refreshing to think of His coming Kingdom on a daily basis.

His Kingdom will be more beautiful and perfect than these pictures.

I'm looking forward to what He has promised.

the little chapel by the river

Hope Bible Church

Wesley Gardens

Savannah, Georgia

Next service

Sunday, September 16th.

10:00

Come join us!

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 

 I Corinthians 1:18

amelia island plantation

This little guy greeted us as we arrived last week

He was happily chomping on the grass by the walkway to the beach.

I knew from him that it was going to be a great time.

Amelia Island Plantation is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Majestic oaks bent by the ocean breeze,

Green, green grass,

Tropical flowers.

It was breathtaking.

My ideal and most coveted getaway is to be oceanfront on the beach.

It is so relaxing.

Being the week after Labor Day,

the placed was deserted.

Oh my, it was perfect,

This is where I sat every morning and watched the sun come up.

This is also where I sat every evening and watched the ocean while I read.

Here is a shot of the moon in the early morning, 

just before the sun started lighting up the horizon.

This was my very first sunrise.

I waited an hour for it to pop up it's head.

The breaking of dawn over the ocean  is exquisite.

My place on the beach.

I sat for hours, right there, reading and watching the ocean.

Praising God and listening to the roar of the waves hitting the shore.

I would see a few sea birds and the occasional stray beachwalker.

Other than that I had it to myself.

Love these training clouds.

Never saw a thundershower though.

Look at the little teddy bear face down below.

This was the perfect time and place to praise our great and awesome God...

To pray and think of Him as the 

Maker, 

Creator, 

and Sustainer 

of all of this beauty.

My time at the beach...

I cannot believe how restorative it was.

I am getting better, stronger, healthier every day.

To Him be all the praise and glory.

I am filled with thanksgiving!