When my sons Branden and Ryan were young, I would go all out at Easter time. I decorated my house with green grass, plastic eggs, and other Easter paraphernalia. I dyed six dozen eggs! Yes, seventy-two eggs. I never knew why six dozen, but it started with my mother dying that number for us when we were kids. I simply continued the tradition. I did it with my grandchildren when they lived here in Texas and I still do it with them even though they live in Sunrise, Florida. Thank God for technology that allows us to have these moments together. I realize it sounds crazy, but these activities bring back so many lovely memories.
As I put up my Easter decorations this year, I chuckled at something else I used to do when my boys were very young. I would cut out “rabbit paws,” put baby powder on them, and make footprints in the carpet which started from an outside door to the family room. The footprints led to their Easter baskets.
I don’t know about you, but as much as I like candy, absolutely nothing compares to the sweetness of God’s Word. It penetrates my heart, allows me to converse with Him…
Read MoreWhile gearing up for my morning walk, I asked the Lord for a topic for Christmas. As I walked around the lake, I started doing what I normally do…talk to the Lord or sing. Since it’s the Christmas season, I started singing Christmas carols.
Away in a manger
no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
laid down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
looked down where He lay
the little Lord Jesus
asleep on the hay
We can learn a lot from the Peanuts gang. During the holidays, if we aren’t careful, we set unrealistic expectations which may leave us overwhelmed and depressed. And like Charlie Brown, we find ourselves sighing his catchphrase—good grief. But towards the end of the movie, Marcie explains what Thanksgiving means to her.
Read MoreWhile going through some of my Father’s old papers, I ran across a receipt book with carbon copies. With all the new technology today, these receipts represent a thing of the past. Back in the day when writing a receipt for someone, you took two blank receipts and placed a piece of carbon paper between them. The carbon captured whatever you wrote on the top receipt and copied it onto the second one. The second one resulted in some flaws (different color, slight misalignment), but it represented a good image of the original. I smiled and thought of how my sister and I ended up a carbon copy of our dad.
Read MoreOn Sunday, February, 8th, I made the usual call to my mother in Columbia, S.C. to chat. My sister, Debbie answered the phone.
“Hey, Sis…how’s it going…I called to speak to Mama.”
“Pat, Mama is still feeling a little weak and not up to talking. Even though she is not in any pain, I am going to take her to the doctor tomorrow to get her checked out.”
“I agree. I talked to her Thursday when she said she felt weak, and wanted her to get checked up, but she refused…. I will call back tomorrow to check on her.”
We chatted for a bit, then hung up. Early Monday evening, I received a call from Debbie.