More Fun with Virginia

 

So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ~Psalm 90:12

It is so miserably hot here in Kennesaw when Virginia comes to visit us, but we make the most of the time we have together before heading for the mountains, where, we hope, the temperatures will be cooler.  We want each and every day to count!

One excursion I take with Virginia is to visit The Frozen Cow, an ice cream shop in town that makes its ice cream right there on the premises.  Here's a photo from the first time we take Virginia to The Frozen Cow.  She must have been in either first grade or kindergarten.

And try as she might, Virginia can barely see over the counter in order to watch the ice cream being made.

That's not a problem anymore!

What does remain a problem is how to possibly eat all the ice cream they generously serve; believe it or not, Virginia's cone is a small!!!

She manages to finish hers, but half of mine, unfortunately, ends up in the trash. :(

One afternoon, Papa takes Virginia to visit her Uncle Nicco.  She enjoys looking through his microscope.

But best of all, Virginia LOVES learning how to correctly handle and fire an airsoft pistol.  What kid wouldn't?

Virginia actually hits the targets Nicco has made!

Aside from taking trips to the grocery store with Virginia to let her, of course, pick out some favorite snacks to enjoy, we play backgammon.  Lots of backgammon!

Virginia is developing into a masterful player, and can beat me in a heartbeat.  With Papa, it's a little more difficult to seal the victory, but she certainly tries.

The night before we are scheduled to leave for the cabin, we have supper at a fairly new pizza parlor in town to avoid any kitchen muss and fuss.  It is an excellent choice!

Friday's post will find us heading up to our cabin in the Nantahala Mountains of North Carolina.  I hope you'll come along for the ride!

Amen!

Blessed Be My Rock

 

 

The Lord lives!  Blessed be my Rock!  Let the God of my salvation be exalted. ~Psalm 18:46

Last year, one of my blog entries features the significance that rocks and rock collecting has played in granddaughter, Virginia's, young life.  You can read all about it here.

My friend, and fellow blogger, J. D. Wininger, who pens weekly reflection on his site, Around the Cross-Dubya, takes special interest of this particular post.  He has certain rocks he has held dear over the years, and with no grandchild of his own showing special interest in collecting, he asks if I think Virginia would like to have them.  Of course, I answer in the affirmative, and J. D. promptly mails these special stones to us, knowing it will be a while before Virginia can properly thank him for the gift.

When they arrive, Danny and I show them to Virginia via FaceTime, promising that she can take them home after our vacation time together in June.  As you can see in the pictures below, Virginia is having the time of her life.

 

After sorting and categorizing her new treasures, we tell Virginia it's time to write a thank you to Mr. J. D.  I must admit, I'm thinking she's not going to be enthusiastic about this task, but oh, how wrong I am!

J. D. has taken the time to identify certain favorite rocks in detail, and Virginia soaks up all those facts, and let her new "grandparent" know just how special they are to her, too, and she loves knowing where they came from.  By the time she's finished typing her thank you, it is a page long, so descriptive, detailed, and heart-felt.  My own heart is bursting with pride as I read her letter, knowing how much her words will mean to J. D.

And, I'm absolutely right on that score.  After receiving Virginia's letter, he sends me a note on my blog informing me that he is having the letter framed!  It means that much to him.  And when Virginia hears about J. D.'s plan, she is, naturally, beside herself with joy.

This experience has modeled for her the importance of generosity and gratefulness in life, and the power of a sincere thanks has to move others.

And the rocks will remind Virginia to be grateful for God's solid and immovable love for her, for all of us.  Blessed be our Rock!

Amen!

It has been brought to my attention that the links I've used above are not working.  To see the original post about Virginia's fascination with rocks, visit marthaorlando.blogspot.com/2021/rock-my-world.html

You can find J. D. at jdwininger.com

The Best Time Ever!

 

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.  And teach them to your children and grandchildren. ~Deuteronomy 4:9

How can I even begin to describe the memorable times we have spent with granddaughter, Virginia, and other family members over these last two weeks?  Blessed beyond measure is a start, but even that cannot convey the joy of our days together.  And honestly, the time flies by so quickly while Virginia is with us, I find myself wishing with all my heart that I could stop its flight or, at least, slow it down.

Photos will have to do for a freeze frame, though.  Before I get into our specific adventures and experiences over the last several weeks, I'm going to share some pictures of Virginia that we took.  She certainly has grown and matured since last fall.  It's hard to believe she will be turning 12 later this month - talk about time flying!  Enjoy!

When we finally have to say good-bye a week ago Monday, I say to Virginia, "I wish we were starting out our time together all over again."

She hugs me and says, "I do too, Gammie.  It was the best time ever!"

Amen!

(More adventures to come!  Stay tuned!)

The Lord's Rest

 

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ~Matthew 11:28

I cannot begin to convey the excitement and anticipation that my husband, Danny, and I are experiencing right now.  Our granddaughter, Virginia, will be arriving on Monday, and will spend most of the month of June with us!  Oh, how we have missed her, and have counted down the days until we are reunited!

In light of this, it's time for me to take a rest from blogging in order to give my full attention to Virginia.  No doubt, our adventures together will create many ideas for future blogs, but now, I want nothing more than to simply spend time with her.

I have no doubt that we will experience the Lord's rest as we immerse ourselves in the reaffirmation of the connection we share.  My instinct tells me we'll pick right up where we left off at Thanksgiving!

That being said, please understand if I'm absent from your blogs, too.  I'll keep you all in my prayers, and I do hope I will be kept in yours for a blessed time with Virginia.

Amen!

Friday's Forever!

 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:10

I'm not sure how many years I've been a fan of Karen Friday's  blog, but it is definitely a favorite of mine.  I look forward to reading her weekly, God-inspired reflection every Thursday without fail.  If you aren't already one of Karen's followers, please hop over and introduce yourself!

You would think, having followed Karen for some time, that I would have been aware of the YouTube channel that she, and her husband of 37 years, Mike, have created.  But it's only a few weeks ago when I actually see the link and decide to pay them a visit.  Wow!  The Fridays are a talented team, indeed!

Here's a bit of background Karen has kindly provided for me to share with you.

Mike and Karen met on a college campus in the beautiful mountains of east Tennessee.  While they have lived many places as Mike served as a pastor, they returned to their roots years ago, where Mike served for eighteen years at his home church.

Now retired from the ministry, Karen is an office administrator for a realty company, and Mike is a real estate photographer/videographer during the week, but on the weekends?  That's a completely different story!

Their YouTube channel, Friday's Forever, feature their adventures throughout eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.  You may see Karen and Mike enjoying a corn dog from Fannie Farkles on the Gatlinburg strip, reviewing a local hotel or restaurant, and enjoying the sights and sounds Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Hiking a trail or gazing at a waterfall in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park showcases God's amazing and breathtaking creation for all to see and enjoy.  Especially in these hard economic times, when vacations may have to be virtual for many, Mike and Karen's unique videos give you scenic landscapes, quaint and historical towns, and introduction to the unique culture found in the hills of Appalachia.

Karen also adds that although their adventures are always fun and memory-making trips, the best part about being on YouTube is that they get to meet subscribers to their channel in person from time to time.  That's definitely a thrill for them!

As The Great Smoky Mountains is a favorite destination for Danny and me, Friday's Forever allows us to enjoy that gorgeous and majestic place from the comfort of our living room.  Won't you join Mike and Karen on their many adventures?

You can find their channel by simply going to YouTube and typing Friday's Forever in the search bar.  Karen also does speaking engagements and may be found on Facebook and Instagram.  

Happy Adventures!

Amen!

Practice Makes Perfect?

 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ~1 Corinthians 13:11

When my husband, Danny, runs across this meme on Facebook, I can't help but laugh, albeit ruefully.  It perfectly describes my love/hate relationship I have with the game of backgammon.  It has become a ritual for Danny and me to play several rounds every night.  One would think with all that practice, that I'd become a better player.

Think again!

I lose more than I win; that's just a fact.  Blame the roll of the dice.  Blame the wrong choice of a move.  Blame the continual luck of the opponent.  When it comes to backgammon, it seems, no amount of experience can prepare you to master the game.  And as we have seen recently in our country's administration, blaming is the name of the game.

Thank goodness that's not true when it comes to God's Word!  We may start out as immature Christians, childlike in our faith, but the more we immerse ourselves in Bible study, prayer and reflection, the stronger and more mature we become.  And hopefully, we reach the point where we can confidently and lovingly inspire others to grow in God's knowledge and grace.

Sure, life is full of both losing and winning moments, times of rough seas and times of calm.  But when our faith is grounded in the Word and the knowledge of Jesus' love for us, we are more than prepared to survive the hard moments and celebrate the good ones with thanksgiving.

Just have to remind myself of that the next time I lose another round of backgammon.

Amen!

Path to Freedom

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13

Yesterday marks six months since I quit smoking.  If anyone had asked me in December of 2021 if I planned to make any New Year's resolutions, I would have answered with a resounding, "No!"  But God, it seems had other plans, plans that were certainly not on my radar.  You can read about that here.

In order to heal completely from pneumonia, I know I have to stop smoking.  For good.  After all, it isn't every day I can attest to audibly hearing God's voice, and knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is His.  He tells me what will happen if I fail to quit.  I think on all the family members I love, and can't bear the thought of departing this life right now.  There's still too much left for me to do for God's kingdom!

The Lord and I make a pact.

This journey hasn't been an easy one, but I must admit, it's been easier than I ever imagined it could be.  That's due in large part to the aid of the Nicotine Patch.

This product comes in three different levels:  21mg for folks who are used to smoking 15 or more cigarettes a day; 14mg for those who are somewhere around the 8 to 10 mark, and 7mg for those approaching the threshold of not craving cigarettes at all.

I've been on Step 3, or 7mg, for at least six weeks now.  One is directed to wear each patch for one day, and then change it for a new one.  But in the last two weeks, I've cut down even more, changing the patch every day and a half instead.  That is working so well, I think I'll be able to ditch the patches for good in just a couple of weeks.  HOORAY!

Yes, Jesus has most certainly given me His strength and resolve along this journey, and I know He will never forsake me or leave me at loose ends.  Should I be tempted to stray, I know I will hear His comforting and encouraging voice, bidding me to keep to the paths He has set for my feet to follow.

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus is the only path to freedom.

I'll take it!

Amen!