hey bubba...

This post will be short (I think).

I really never know how many words will pour out until I start writing.

You died two years ago.

You didn't die on February 28th.

You actually died on the 29th of February,

 but it will be two more years before the actual date rolls around again,

therefore, I will remember you today.

(as if I could ever forget the life we had together)

My heart is still broken.

My whole life changed when you left me.

So much is different now,

but, in the place that matters most...

my heart of hearts, 

I am still devastated and just a little, or maybe a lot, off-center of normal.

I'm still driving your old van though.

I call it "my tank."

I really love not having a car payment.

As per us, I will probably drive it till it falls apart.

When you died Bubba, I was hurtled onto a fast track to Jesus.

For the first time in my life,

 He became my heart's desire and the One who has my back.

I have learned and grown in Him in ways not possible when I had you as my beloved companion.

Now, instead of asking you "What should I do?" I ask Jesus.

Here I am...a survivor.

I am living alone but totally dependent on my God to see me through the rest of my life.

I am strong but weak in my own devices.

I stay in God's word because that is where all truth is.

(we learned that together, didn't we?)

I depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, teach, comfort, and help me in all situations.

I love my people fiercely because they are the ones that love me and take care of all my worldly needs.

When I turn out the light at night I am not afraid because God is with me.

We finished studying through the sixteenth chapter of John's gospel recently at

Hope Bible Church.

Jesus spoke these words in the last verse...

"These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace.

In the world you have tribulation,

but take courage; 

I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

I have had much tribulation since you've been gone dear one.

But one day soon there will be no more sorrow and death and tears.

I long for that day!

Can't wait to see you again Bubba!

I know I will!

Love you always and forever!

Cathy

💙

(This didn't end up being short)

 

sparkling reflections

I am strongly considering this piece of art for my new home.

The moment I saw it, I knew I would want to look at it every single day.

So calm ~ so peaceful!

The beauty of God's creation caught on canvas with oils by the hands of a talented artist.

I'm thinking of putting it by the double windows over the farmhouse bench.

This work of art is by Laura Fontaine.

She lives in Charlestown, South Carolina.

I can just tell that she too imbibes the beauty of the low country.

She named this piece Sparkling Reflections.

I look at this scene in real-time every time I drive out of my neighborhood.

The first dinner at the new house is happening in just a few hours.

I am well and just far enough along with my unpacking to attempt a feed.

It will be simple.

Pizza and salad will be brought in.

Lucy is making a dessert.

I will get everything together to provide a place to eat and fellowship.

It is a gorgeous, spring-like day at the end of February.

This is when it is so amazing to live in Savannah.

I am thankful for so many things today.

Especially what I'm learning about the Holy Spirit in John's gospel.

God is faithful to teach His children if we seek to know him.

To have God's written word is such a miracle.

I just can't get over this precious gift.

 

my neighborhood is growing

I live in a busy construction zone.

There are workers everywhere toiling away from early morning till it gets dark.

I don't mind at all.

It doesn't bother me a bit.

People are making money working their trade.

I remember how much fun we had watching my house being built.

Exciting things going on on Hope Lane!

The one above is the unit right next to mine. 

Looks like they'll be bricking soon.

The houses are all in various stages of being ready to move in.

I love living in this neighborhood.

It is quiet and I feel secure.

I'm still unpacking boxes and getting set up.

I'm thinking about some verses in Psalm 2 today as I watch the events going on in the world.

"Why are the nations in an uproar, 

And the people's devising a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take their stand,

and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed."

"He who sits in the heavens laughs,

The Lord scoffs at them."

Psalm 2: 1-2 & vs. 4

God is sovereign over all things.

He knows what He is doing.

Nothing takes Him by surprise.

He controls even the evil rulers of this world.

Wait and see what the Lord will do.

 

this is very random I know but...

I love stuff like this.

I've been grounded from unpacking boxes because of a nasty cold.

Maybe I've been looking at my phone a little bit more than normal.

I've traveled almost all of these interstates.

Bubba and I always lived for the next road trip.

Here's the explanation that came with...

Those interstates with two digits traverse the entire country.

If they end in zero they run east to west.

If they end in 5 they run north to south.

The three digits are bypasses and contain the last two digits of the interstates they bypass.

That's it.

Neat!!

I have one question...

Why is there no interstate 50 or interstate 65?

I think there is an interstate 65 between

Montgomery, Alabama, and Chicago, Illinois.

Bubba and I traveled on I 65 many times headed to 
Moody Bible Institute.

I'm better!

Feel like getting back to work.

My family takes such good care of me.

I'm so thankful.

 

my little garden

I managed to keep Bubba's geraniums alive and flourishing on the porch at my apartment.

One day last week, using his two-wheel dolly,

I drug them to the backyard and put them in place on my patio.

February and these red beauties are growing strong.

The rest of my house is a disaster area,

but I managed to make beauty happen on the patio outside of the big slider.

This is so comforting to me.

Before I moved, 

I sent my very large farmhouse pine table with both leaves to have the top refinished.

Many years of eating and drinking,

  dyeing Easter eggs, 

 wrapping Christmas presents,

 and sprinkling glitter, 

had left it in serious need of a nice, new refresh.

It was delivered late Friday afternoon.

Mr. Ginn did an exceptional job.

We were supposed to have our first family meal all together in the new house last night,

but unfortunately, I was felled with a crazy sickness.

I couldn't stop sneezing and blowing my nose.

I had to call off the dinner and I didn't get to go to church this morning.

What a bummer.

I'm still sneezing and blowing my nose but I think I'm improving.

We'll try for next weekend if I live through this malady.

Erika set up this temporary seating area until the big table came in.

That is a folding card table that is very old.

Someone in Bubba's family won it at the fair many years ago.

I love this table and use it often.

I wanted to show a close-up of the top of the card table and how well preserved it is.

In the center 

is my beautiful pop-up daisy birthday card 

sent from my playhouse and lifelong friend, Lou.

We have known each other forever.

We are growing old together.

That's all I have for this blog.

Doing much of anything wears me out at this point in my illness.

I do a little unpacking and then I hit the chair for rest.

Sicknesses always seem to appear at the most inopportune times.

That's okay though!

I'm home and can set my house up slowly and methodically.

It's how I roll!

 

one week and a day

I've lived in my new home for one week and a day and...

I love it!

To me, it is breathtakingly beautiful.

New room ~ old furniture.

How did this happen?

How am I here?

God's grace.

The lantern on my front porch is my favorite.

It welcomes me home. 

I am home again.

Thankful!

All of my windows are covered with beautiful shades and shutters.

I feel safe and secure.

I wish Bubba was here with me.

I know he would love it too.

He would say, "Cathy it's perfect for you."

And I think he would be proud of what we have accomplished in two years.

He would be happy that I am happy.

It is good, all good.

All glory goes to God who made it all happen in the midst of a pandemic.

🏡

whatever it takes

💔

hey bubba

You will always be my favorite Valentine!

April, 1969

I was a college girl.

You were working your way up.

Love your red sweater.

I still have the same hairstyle.

We were so in love.

I still love you with all of my heart!

💟

basking in the glow

Yesterday was my birthday.

I turned 74.

Today I am basking in the glow of all of the love I received

and the joy and happiness I feel living in my new home.

It was a day of Facebook greetings, texts, phone calls, and a gift delivered to my front door.

Lucy brought me lunch promptly at noon

 and we visited together over our meal.

She had to hurry home to make my birthday dessert.

Cream Brule.

(I'm not sure that's spelled correctly)

For dinner, we were going to Bella's Italian Restaurant but they were still requiring masks,

so we took our group to Bow Ties for some barbeque.

It was delicious.

I didn't eat very much of this huge tray of food,

but I shared it with some hungry boys who happened to be sitting at our table.

I had a taste for a rib and some mashed sweet potatoes.

It was good!

I still can't taste hardly anything, but I remember how much I loved ribs.

This was real, made from scratch Cream Brule.

Lucy spent all afternoon making it for me.

It was heavenly!

She is a gourmet cook.

The boys wanted to get their hands on that torch.

Would have been a disaster!

I got one candle because there was no room for 74.

Yesterday was up there with one of the best birthdays ever!

💖

 

i'm home

This is my favorite picture from the move.

It was Saturday afternoon.

My belongings from the apartment were on their way to my new house.

My family said I needed to rest.

The only chair available was my beach chair.

There was no other furniture in the house.

I grabbed my book and found a spot in the sun in my sunroom.

I'm home.

Not in any way settled but very thankful for this blessing.

More later,

Cathy 

🏡

 

new homeowner

It happened this morning at ten.

I signed my life away.

Those are my keys I'm holding up!

Now I am the owner (with the bank) of my beautiful new home.

Thank You, God, for giving me this gift!

The move out of the apartment starts tomorrow

so this is my last post from the Hammocks.

Much hard labor lies ahead, but I love the work of setting up and decorating my home.

After this post, I will not have the internet until Thursday of next week.

I will not be writing my blog,

 but when you think of me know that I will be busy and happy.

This has been an incredible journey.

I never would have thought I would get to do this again.

This past year has been very special.

Thanks for your prayers for me.

I have felt in my heart every one of them.

You pray for me ~ I pray for you.

🏡