WHEW!!!!!

I love wonderful, exciting, happy memories, and the last two weeks have provided so many, I just don't know where to begin!

I'd like to begin with Pastor Barr's sermon, Sunday, August 24th.  He has been sharing a few of the Parables Jesus told and this Sunday's was called "A Rude Awakening".  It's the Parable of the steward who stole money from his master (Luke 16:1-8), and it's always been a bit vague to me as I never knew where it "fit" me.  Now I have a new understanding of it and know exactly how it applies to me.  Dr. Barr began with the question, "Have you ever had a game-changer?"  WOW, have I, and that game-changer left me spinning in an unknown world.  Now I have a few possible avenues to pursue.

     I am the STEWARD of my own life.  There will be an accounting to the Lord and did I use
     all the gifts the Lord gave me?  Have I lost sight of who I am and who I am becoming?  What
     investment can I make today to affect my future and others' futures?  The hymn "I need Thee every  
     hour" was sung followed by this statement - Yes, we need Thee every hour but we don't always
     act like it!  LIVE WISELY!!!!!

The following week was incredible!  On Tuesday, my dear friend Christy moved into her new home.  It's beautiful and she is settling in!  Wednesday began the final wedding preparations for Libby and Tim's special day.  Most of you have seen a few of the photos and they are perfect!  It was a beautiful day of memories and fun, exciting times with family and friends.

With our arms around each other, Libby and I walked down the aisle which was between bales of hay covered in old quilts from the handwork of my grandmother, Mamaw, HC Baker's grandmother, Gandy, great Aunt Mary, and a few newer, purchased ones!  Surrounded by memories right there!!!  There was lawn Twister, giant Genga (made by Tim) and not sure of that spelling, 3 sets of corn hole, the HUGE pile of old trees, stumps, old fence posts, etc., ready for a wonderful bonfire, plenty to eat and drink and lots of laughter and a few tears!  What a day!  Missed having Emily, Brett, Garrett and Gracie there.  *Handsome Fella' missed the day too as he was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his family enjoying his grandchildren for a final summer outing.  So it was a family holiday weekend for everyone!  Hearts are full!

Survived all that and spent the next week recuperating!  I did visit with dear friends Hub and Reenie.  Some of you might remember them from the years of the live Nativity - they supplied the lambs and Jamison, the donkey!  Hadn't seen them in some time and it was good to catch up!

Made it to church on Sunday for the first in a sermon series titled Just Walk Across the Room, a book by Bill Hybels.  Bought the book, starting to read it and already cried once!  Excited to learn how I can just walk across the room!  Wouldn't that be wonderful for ALL of us?

Spent Sunday afternoon with Handsome Fella' and dear friends, Rick and Barbara (you've been praying for them because they were BOTH diagnosed with cancer last fall) on their weekend farm in Washington County.  Barbara is doing well, Rick is still in treatment.  A large part of his problem is his heart cannot stay in the right rhythm and the meds he is taking keep him sick to his stomach most of the time.  Continued prayers please.  We did take a ride around the farm in his new "mule".  I asked my friend Christy if she knew what a mule was and she said yes.  Then I told her I rode in it around the farm and she gasped!!!!!  She thought I meant a real mule!!!!  After we both stopped laughing, I explained to her it was like a golf cart!!  She felt better!  (I was still totally out of my element but I did it!  Handsome Fella' took a photo if you need proof!)

There's so much else I could tell you but am running out of time.  I have 3 huge projects going on as I write and none of them are going very well!  For some reason, my power drill/screwdriver won't stay charged and I can't find the correct "bits" (???).  I am trying to hang a picture and cannot get the hooks to catch on the back of the frame!!!!!!!  Aggravating to say the least!  I'm trying to hang drapery rods and I think I'm trying to drill into metal and that's a problem!!!!  AND...I'm sewing and broke the machine needle and can't find another one in my sewing box!!!!!  Not my morning!

But let me close with a few prayer requests.  Tomorrow, dear friend Madeline will have her first radiation treatment.  Even though she is the best nurse many of us have ever had, she is now the patient!  Not an easy task for her.  PRAY!  Thursday, dear friends, Cinda and Joyce fly to Philadelphia for their THIRD 3-day 60 mile Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk.  I am so proud of these two women for their commitment and hard work!  PRAY!  Tomorrow a wonderful young woman and her patient and kind husband will be overjoyed at the arrival of their triplets.  She has been in the hospital on bed rest for over a week now waiting and tomorrow is the day!  PRAY!  There are lots of others needing prayers for all kinds of reasons, good and bad.  PRAY!  And always please remember our military and their families.  PRAY!

And to everyone, PRAY we will all find the strength and courage in our hearts to JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM!

Love you all, xxoo