coastal georgia

Coastal Georgia is my home.

I am so glad to get to live among the marshes and the rivers 

that take the water and deposit it in the ocean.

There is a certain smell here...kinda salty, earthy, pungent.

It is the smell that lets me know I am where I should be.

I am thankful that Coastal Georgia is my home.

There is one downside to living on the coast.

Every year we enter into what is called hurricane season.

Huricane season 

is that time of the year when a storm barrels off the coast of Africa 

and slowly, very slowly, makes it's way across the Atlantic to the coast of the United States. 

Moving at a snail's pace,

 the residents on the coast of the United States 

watch and wait and hope

 that a storm with a personal name will not hit our little piece of paradise and rip it to shreds. 

Most of the time we are spared, 

but every once in a while a place is simply devastated.

 Our condo at the beach was severely damaged by a storm called Matthew a few years ago.

Here is a picture from Facebook today.

More than likely this guy storm named Isaias will just brush by Tybee next week.

But you never know. 

That is why we watch so intently and wait with measured trepidation.

Bubba handled storms very well.

I, on the other hand, am a little nervous.

But I do have these verses from Luke.

God controls the storms.

I really don't need to be afraid.

"Now it came about on one of those days,

 that Jesus and His disciples got into a boat and He said to them,

 'Let us go over to the other side of the lake.' 

And they launched out.

 But as they were sailing along Jesus fell asleep;

 and a fierce gale of wind descended upon the lake,

 and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.

 And they came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying,

'Master, Master, we are perishing!' 

And being aroused,

 He rebuked the wind and the surging waves, 

and they stopped, 

and it became calm."

Luke 8:22-24

⛵

I love God's word so much.

Isn't this passage just awe-inspiring?

I want to trust Him in all things "pertaining to life and godliness..."

even storms that come brushing by our coast.

ah,summer

It is hot...hotter than hot, but I love it!

What's not to love about summer.

The afternoon thundershowers that come to cool off the earth,

the brilliance of the sun,

the blue of the sky,

the long shadows of the never-ending days.

When I get up in the morning it is starting to get light.

When I go to bed at night, it is still light.

Sleep comes quickly.

It's like I don't want to miss a minute of a summer day.

The flowers are blooming in profusion.

They soak up the water I give them to drink.

My grass needs cutting three days after it is cut.

The trees are in full green.

The birds are singing their songs.

Lizards are everywhere. ☹️

David and Erika worked really hard to find us a place at the beach,

One of my most crowning joys of the summer.

We'll be going soon.

I'll need an umbrella and a chair!

I will spend the day right there.

I will read and fly a kite and take long walks every morning and evening.

I will soak up the sound and the smell of the ocean.

I will listen to the waves pounding on the sand.

Oh summer, you are fleeting.

I can already tell a slight change in the length of your days.

I have been so thankful for the light.

It makes me not be afraid.

I am thankful for summer.

I have always loved!

Stay a little longer this year.

Stay around with your long days and your warmth and your light.

 Things are better in the light.

In heaven there will be no darkness.

I am glad!

🌞 🏖

ps...Amanda is on her way to my house.

She will be here for a few days.

I couldn't be happier!

smiles

I love this quote.

It simply says it all!

Death isn't the end of life,

it is really just the beginning.

I can imagine the smile on Bubba's face on the day he passed from this life.

We were all crying and he was entering into paradise.

Why, you say, would he be smiling?

Because he was headed home to see His Savior Jesus Christ.

What joy!!!

Cathy

❤️

"And Jesus said to him...

'Today you shall be with me in paradise.' "

Luke 23:43

seeing beauty

A sweet family in our church recently adopted a little boy from South Korea.

Before they could even begin the proceedings,

they had to spend 2 weeks in quarantine separated from each other.

This note came in my mail from the mom.

She had painted these thank you cards with watercolors 

while waiting to see her child for the first time.

I love getting something in the mail.

So many of you sent cards after Bubba died and each one was such a blessing.

This note touched my heart in a special way.

What she and her husband went through to get their son was very hard.

She was able to create beauty while waiting.

I had to share.

I love the beauty that we can see in this fallen world...

flowers,

the sun just before it sets in the evening,

blue skies with puffy white clouds,

the ocean sending waves upon a white sandy shore,

green grass,

a smile on the face of a friend.

I call them glimpses of heaven.

When God makes all things new,

 we will be surrounded by beauty wherever we turn.

Right now we only see beauty faintly.

On the new earth, beauty will be commonplace and we will always be in a state of wonder.

Until then, thank you Lord for the beauty we can see.

"God has set eternity in the heart of man."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

We were made to live forever!

I can't stop reading about heaven!

there's a cake in the oven

It's Saturday again.

We are having church here tomorrow and I am cooking

Sunday dinner.

 I decided to make my Mom's sour cream pound cake.

It is in the oven as I write and I need to be careful to not let it burn.

I get lost when I write and forget to be careful about the time.

This cake is delicious and I have fresh strawberries and real whipped cream to serve with.

I think they look so beautiful in my grandmother's bowl.

I was texting with Amanda earlier and I said,

"I am so glad that I love to cook."

The whole process excites me...

deciding on a menu,

shopping for what I will need,

the actual process of putting everything together to be cooked and served.

There is something soul-satisfying about preparing a meal.

The most wonderful gratification comes from seeing everybody enjoy.

Oh, and did I mention the tablescape?

Beautiful linens and plates and glasses,

flowers and candles even on a regular day make me so happy.

This morning I made lasagna from scratch.

Is there really any other way to enjoy this fabulous dish.

I love going out in the yard to cut fresh herbs to zest it up.

It smelled delicious while I was making it.

Here is the cake in all of its glory.

Maybe a tad too dark around the edges but the inside will melt in the mouth.

So thankful for God's bountiful blessings each day.

He's got me by my right hand.

Sometimes He has to pull me along, but I'm moving and living and learning.

What a joy to "taste and see that the Lord is good."

Psalm 34:8

teach me about heaven

Bubba took this picture of me on the last full day of our cruise.

It was Valentine's Day,

I was sitting in my happy place on our balcony hanging over the deep blue ocean.

Little did I know what lay ahead.

I have been very interested to read about heaven.

It took me a while before I could read more than a sentence or two after Bubba died.

It was like my brain went into shock and couldn't function.

Now I'm better,

almost back to normal reading skills.

Reading is once again a huge joy in my life.

Because of Jesus and God's word and His Spirit giving me faith to believe,

I know that Bubba is in heaven.

I rarely go to the cemetery.

He's just not there.

The part of Him that I love is with Jesus.

Because of that, I have an intense desire to know as much as I can about where I know he is.

Erika's Dad recommended this book to me on the day of Bub's funeral.

I just started reading it yesterday because I have been hanging out in Heaven by Randy Alcorn. 

I am already almost halfway done.

It has taken my soul to new heights.

Heaven is alluded to all through the Bible.

God wants us to know about heaven 

so that when we lose someone we love we can be comforted.

He wants us to look forward to where we are headed when our time here is done.

He wants to show us what He has prepared for us,

and ya'll it is amazing.

I have been lifted to great heights of joy by these books.

Bubba is waiting for all of us to come and see what He now knows.

We live by faith.

 He is living by sight.

I cannot even imagine the glories he has seen.

He has beheld the face of his Savior.

He has fallen to the ground before Him in worship and praise.

He is waiting for us to come.

"For God so loved the world

 that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him 

should not perish 

but have everlasting life," 

John 3:16

This verse is for everyone.

Notice it says "whoever believes."

Come to Jesus, He is waiting.

He loves you. 

be gentle on yourself

I am a person who thrives on getting things done.

completing a task,

finishing a post,

getting an entire load of laundry done and put away,

reading a book all the way to the end.

I like to complete things,

to set my mind to relish upon a job brought to fruition.

Yep, that's me.

But, I can't make myself finish grieving.

I cannot get to the end of it.

I think sometimes that I may never be done completely with this heavy load of sadness.

I have a special friend that I talk to about these things.

She says there is nothing set in stone concerning grief...

"It takes as long as it takes."

"Be gentle on yourself."

I'm trying.

"Don't make any important decisions quickly after such a traumatic event."

I haven't.

"Take your time."

I am.

I'm Learning!

This is my prayer every morning...

"Make Your way straight before me."

Psalm 5:86

He does and I am thankful.

Most of all I desire to seek His will for my life.

Without God's mercy and guidance I wouldn't be this far along.

Every day I find some nugget of truth to hang on to.

I am thankful.

I am full of wonder and praise for my Savior.

.

"Be Gentle on Yourself."

It's harder than it seems!

133 days

One hundred thirty-three days.

That's how long it has been since Bubba left to go to his heavenly home.

Lots of lonely days.

Lots of memories gliding through my mind.

Lots of time in God's word.

I found this verse this morning...

"The Lord...protects the widow."

Psalm 145:9

This sparked a huge amount of thanksgiving in my soul.

God is watching out for me,

He knows my heart, my fears, my hopes.

He has given me everything I need...

That would be His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Christ I am well taken care of in every way.

Bubba is with Jesus now.

He is waiting for all of us to join him.

I can rest in that truth.

The other night it came a hard rain,

then the sun came out. 

I had to hurry because I knew it wouldn't last.

The rainbow was fleeting, and maybe a little faint in color, but I got so excited!

The rainbow is our assurance that God keeps all of His promises.

At my lowest times, 

when my soul despairs within me, 

He reminds me that every word of His Word is true.

"Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord O my soul.

I will praise the Lord while I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being."

Psalm 146: 1&2

Amen!

*add on at 2:45 pm

I'm cooking for some people who really like to eat today.

Have to cook two roasts because one is not enough.

@growing kids

@lover of leftovers

@it's what grammy's do

@food = love

These pots of goodness are in the oven now.

❤️

the 4th, a few more

Mark and his amazing fireworks show in my backyard.

My Lu staying hydrated.

Archie applying Erika's flags.

Hot Stuff with his sparkler.

David looks a lot like his Dad!

Amanda playing lawn darts.

She takes the game very seriously!

This firework went way up high.

It screamed ghoulishly as it left the earth.

Grammy throwing a lawn dart.

The sun setting amid smoke from the fireworks.

Mark feeling empowered.

Sparklers do that to you, you know.

Amanda and Grammy singing along with the Beach Boys...

Wouldn't It Be Nice?

We all love fireworks!

Lots of laughter!

I need laughter...lots of it.

It cleanses out the sorrow in my soul.

So thankful for times like these!

Thank you to Eli for taking most of these shots.

You are amazing behind the lens.

(he wants my camera.)

📷

a few of my favorites from the fourth

Playing the spoon game.

Grammy and Harry wearing our tiaras.

I love July 4th jewels!

Eli who took most of the pictures.

Walter has the flags.

Relaxing before the fireworks started.

David umpiring the lawn darts game.

Patriotic lawn darts.

Sparklers.

Archie with a big grin.

I have more pictures to share later.

It was one of those "forever" days.

I wanted it to last forever.

😁

notes from bubba

Every now and again I find one...

a little sticky note from my husband because he did things like that.

This one came very early yesterday morning.

It was stuck to Psalm 143 in my Bible.

Note the date...

13 years ago.

I'm sure I read it on June 3, 2007.

I have read it many times since as well, 

but yesterday it really hit home because now Bubba is gone

and it speaks to my broken, fractured heart.

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;

For I trust in You;

Teach me the way in which I should walk:

For to You I lift up my soul."

Psalm 143:8

And this...

"Teach me to do Your will,

For You are my God;

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For the sake of Your name, O Lord,

Revive me."

(bring me back to life)

Psalm 143:11

Messages from heaven to earth via God's precious word.

Thank you Bubba for how well you love me,

then and now.

cathy

happy fourth of july

We celebrated our freedoms well yesterday.

Two of us were missing...

Gus is in North Carolina with his other cousins and granddaddy is in heaven.

After an afternoon of games, we gathered around the table to eat.

We had hot dogs and hamburgers,

Amanda's tasty baked beans,

my famous potato salad,

corn on the cob,

chips and dip,

strawberries,

watermelon,

and, 

my legendary chocolate surprise for dessert.

🍉

We played so many fun games.

the spoon game,

the name game,

and the always entertaining,

lawn darts.

Some of the winners included

David, who had multiple wins,

Eli, a magnificent comeback in the spoons game,

and Harry, who won the name game for the first time ever.

There was lots of cheering, whooping, and hollering.

We ended the evening with a magnificent fireworks display.

Mark and Jake and Eli went over to South Carolina yesterday morning

and came home with enough fireworks to rival any fireworks display I have ever seen.

We even had patriotic music playing loudly.

Who knows what the neighbors were thinking.

Last but not least, we got out the sparklers,

 fire sticks we call them.

Amanda put on a quite exciting cartwheel performance for us as well.

There was singing and dancing, laughter and fun.

What a fun time we had!

This morning...

Mark and Amanda and the boys just left,

the kitty went with. 

I cried.

I'll be okay though, in a couple of days.

If not I will be visiting the local Humane Society.

😢

.

summer's bounty

I am getting ready to celebrate the fourth of July with my family...

planning menus and activities that will be fun for the kids.

I went to the market on the way to the beach yesterday.

I bought Silver Queen corn, a watermelon, and some juicy tomatoes.

Erika made me a loaf of her homemade bread.

I also came home with one dozen rustic pink roses.

Summer is at its peak right now.

I am glad and thankful for all of this goodness.

Nothing has happened with blogger yet.

Maybe whatever was going to happen happened and I don't detect any change.

Maybe it hasn't happened yet.

Maybe when and if it does happen I'll be able to deal with it.

Whatever, I get to write this afternoon and that is good.

I posted this verse on Facebook today...

"Whatever the Lord pleases He does,

 in heaven and in earth,

 in the seas and in all deeps."

Psalm 135:6

In times like the ones we are living through, I take great comfort from this passage.

God is in control just as He has always been.

As believers, our joy comes only from Jesus and He is our only hope.

God never changes.

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

If we could see His plans for our future we would be astonished.

I'm hitching my hopes to the One who never fails!