"PHOTO STORIES"

 

    I found a little treasure this evening as I worked on consolidating and organizing my photos.   This is a task I have been working on for several years apparently, at least long enough for me to have forgotten that I organized a file for 'Photo Stories'. 

   I smiled when I opened it and decided I am ready to write a 'Photo Story' about a day in 2007, if the camera date stamp was correct, when I made a chocolate cake from scratch while the grand kids were there.
    I see from the photos that Wayne was there as well, which makes sense because I usually made chocolate cake for him whenever I felt I had treated him badly.  Throughout our marriage, he often came home to that and spaghetti if we had argued in the morning.    It was always the "make up treat'  instead of that other thing....well, maybe not instead of.

   Anyway, moving right along...

 

As Mom had done with us, and I with my children, I gave the grand babies the batter bowl and spatula.  Messy tradition, but Ohhh, how wonderful.  

Ah, but where are the beaters?  I am guessing Wayne and I have them!

 

I

I remember getting such a kick out of those funny little boys and ran to get the camera, but...
and you will have to trust me on this one...
at one point Simey, the youngest, had his head IN the bowl as Percy is about to do.

 I missed that shot.



   I saw the chocolate in his little curls and wondered why everything these boys did ended up with them in the bath tub.

   Oh, but how sweet he smelled.
  
   I guess Percy thought he did too, because just about when I was putting the camera down, Wayne said, "You gotta see this Char!,  maybe we won't need the tub after all!"

   Who knows how these boys will react when they see this as teens. 

! 

 

I am kind of afraid they will say, "hey, that's nothing Nana, Simey, tell her about the time..."

 

                                                     And I shall run from the room.

   

     Now, as is my policy, I have committed to writing something that will refresh and renew us as we go through our days.  I am working hard to come up with a 'Renewal" story here, but I think as I write this, I am encouraged to go home and make a cake tomorrow and call my adult kids over for some family time. One or more may be working, or too tired...but I will bribe them with the batter bowl and spatula. 

      Anything for a renewing visit and time of thankfulness that they all, the three kids and the three grand kids, are within hollering distance and would drop everything and come if we needed them. 

 

That is a blessing. 

 Char

His Eye is on the Sparrow

 

I found this letter I had written to Mom and Dad about 3 years ago.  I decided to use it today because the message in it never grows old, it applies to me today, and most of us with aging parents can benefit from the comfort spoken of.

 

I will break into the second paragraph of that letter.....
     "My heart has been heavy as I pray for you both sometimes.  I have been looking in the Bible to see how God has directed us to pray for and care for our aging parents.  I know that you are in a safe and nice home there at THE GOLDEN YEARS ESTATE,  but I wish I was nearby to be able to spend time with you both and take care of you when you need it. 
     I think it must be hard to grow older.  I am already at 56 feeling some apprehension about the future.  I can’t imagine how you must be dealing with being in your 80’s and 90’s.
I know your faith is in Jesus.  That is what gives me Peace about being so far away from you.
     I was praying for you both one night last week.  The TV was on a Christian station but it was turned down low.  I wasn’t paying it any attention.  I was feeling the pain of separation from you and the miles in between us seemed so long.  I suddenly thought I heard a familiar song on the TV and then I realized what it was.  I turned it up and tears come to my eyes as I heard a lady singing this song that Mom always sang, especially in the car:

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

 

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
for His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
for His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

 

     This was pretty amazing to me that God would bring this song to me just when my heart was burdened for you both.
     I think God was whispering to my heart that because you both, Mom and Dad, love the Lord, and have followed and served Him these many years, this song applies to you.  I can trust Him to take care of you, even better than I could if I were there.
     So, for today, pretend that I have come in the door and given you a big hug and I brought this message to you.  HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, AND I KNOW HE WATCHES YOU. 

     AND ME.

Lots of love to you both,
Charlene"

As with all my blogs, my goal is to strengthen and edify the sisterhood of believers, thus strengthening the family.

I welcome your comments that will shed insight on this aspect of our lives, and encourage someone else.

CfR

Long Shadows #1

Click here to view this video

What is a Christian Life Coach?

 

 

The International Coaching Federation defines Coaching as:

"An ongoing relationship between the professional coach and the client, which focuses on

 the client taking action toward the realization of their vision, goals or desires.

 

Coaching uses a process of inquiry and personal discovery to build the clients level of awareness and responsibility and

provides the client with structure, support and feedback."

 

As a Christian Life Coach I am saying that I will attempt to help you determine God's purpose for you and clarify your goals. 

 

We will explore your talents, gifting's, personality traits and your strengths as these relate to your goals. 

 You will be helped to discover your support systems and together we will plan, and implement a pathway for you to travel to reach those goals and realize your purpose.

And for as long as you need I will seek to provide you with structure, support and feedback."

 

Jer 29:11

New International Version (©2011)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

 "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Reminding myself to not try and accomplish a whole weeks worth of activity on this Monday morning.

A REFRESHING

Somehow just enjoying this small pleasure removed a lot of the burden to accomplish dealing with the whole yard. 

That was not even a realistic goal.  And so  I have been reminded myself to slow down, live within the possible and within my limits. 

Hmmm that feels a bit like refreshing for today.

As with all my blogs, my goal is to strengthen and edify the sisterhood of believers, thus strengthening the family.

I welcome your comments that will shed insight on this aspect of our lives, and encourage someone else.

CfR




‘Renewal’ explained

I believe when we were created, we were created in the image of God.

Gen 1:27

   King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”.

For a specific purpose…

Peter 2:9

”But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Often we do not see anything about ourselves that reflects His image.  If our thoughts are even going in that direction we are aware of a need, a want….a desire to be as He created us to be.

  A desire for renewal.

 Col 3:10 

 New Living Translation 
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him”

And that I believe is the goal of our hearts.  Not a difficult trial to bear, but an enjoyable satisfying way of life.

I love words and when I see synonyms and related words, as listed in the dictionary; I am amused and helped to pinpoint different needs

  Different areas where I am not reflecting Him and to tackle each from a different perspectives…

Along a different pathway if you will.