Jan 3rd....Thankfulness Today

1. 8 loads of clean laundry....almost finished!
2. A precious Momma that brings Cornmeal Soup because all my kids have runny noses and who shows me what it is like to have reached "perfection" as a Woman/Mother/Christian.

3. A husband that will give Buzz, our dog, a bath when he gets home and who has just worked hours before. He's my example of diligence.

4. Kisses that are given from my baby to his oldest brother when he got hit in the head by the middle brother :)

5. Remembering how quiet things used to be 9 years ago....and grateful for all the crazy noise around here now!

6. A warm home, comfortable bed and so many arms to hug me

7. Love. Even though we can argue, disagree and require apologies~we all hold a very deep bond of love and friendship in this home.

8. A mother-in-law that truly loves me....and frequently shows it.

9. A church family that is filled with sisters and brothers that really care about each other.

10. So many nieces and nephews that are special and unique in their own way. For the beauty that each one brings into my life.

11. My sister and her husband who love my children like their own and showed their love to me in sincere ways when my twins were born.

12. My Daddy for his tender heart. His generosity when I really need it and knowing that he would walk 5 miles in knee-high snow if I were in desperate need for him to.

13. Extended family and friends that I only see every few years, but have many impressions of love in my heart that will always remain!

14. My grandpa Diller who left this life almost 13 years ago, but left a legacy of the TRUTH for all those that knew him!

Those are only just a few things I am thankful for......what about you?

~Darla

The Sacredness of Christmas

This happens to me every year about this time....

I start thinking about Him. The sacrifice. The selfless life. Why He came. I just can't hold it back. Tears come to my eyes and an overwhelming sense of belonging to Someone much more Awesome than Life itself.

I can't shrink away from pondering....wondering....the sacredness of this Season. The beauty and timeless hope it brings not only to me, but everyone that as ever been born! The Birth brought the Cross. He knew it, too.

The stress of gifts, parties, decorating, musicals, dramas, plays, trying to please...just seem to fade to the importance of Him. There is the very real feeling of being unworthy. Words are inadequate to really describe. I know me. He knows me. Yet, He loves me. That's when my soul fills with worship. I want my children to know. And while they have the Nativity Story well-rehearsed, I want them to feel the sacredness... It's a life-changing experience. It's when Christmas comes ALIVE!

Yes, I know.... There is this crazy, insane fight for every one's worship during the month of December. Worship is where our heart really is. Could it be the beautifully ornamented tree? Maybe the gifts that I've been saving for months to purchase? Could it even be the fun, little fantasies of this season? No....when it comes to Jesus...Emmanuel...God with us....

Nothing can compare to Him!

And, while my children and I will celebrate His glorious birth with a birthday cake, candles, ice-cream and balloons singing "Happy Birthday, Jesus" in only a few days, my heart will be filled with something much deeper.....

Thankfulness.

"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining.

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth....

O night divine! O night when Christ was born!"

Merry Christmas to you all! May your holiday be filled with lasting JOY!!

Love, Darla

Silly Surprises!

I can still remember last night! Daddy sitting at the end of our dining room table with both twins on either side playing with playdo. Daddy had worked late and was eating his supper just before bedtime. My sweet little boys were clad in orange UT pajamas and eagerly shaping their playdo in delight! Daddy talking and eating his huge salad a hundred miles and hour as I worked in the kitchen. Suddenly, a silly grin crossed his face as he asked, "Who threw the playdo?" I looked clueless. He continued, "My last bite of salad had a chunk of salty something in it. I knew what happened when I saw bright pink on my plate!"

Some memories are just to priceless to not share! :)

Have a blessed day!

Darla

A NEW REVELATION?

"God doesn't care what our outside looks like, He's just interested in what's inside." The innocence flowed from her lips as I listened contently.

Yeah, that's definitely a common religious quote. For months I have pondered this very statement as I'd watched so many build their new found experience around it. What used to be sacred has suddenly become unimportant.

Hmmmm.....God, I know there are answers. Yes, there are scriptures...there are explanations....interpretations... But nothing can beat personal revelation light. And today I needed a little!

In His loving, gentle way the Lord brought a picture of His body dying on that bloody tree to mind. He reminded me that He gave me all. Inside and out. Flesh and Spirit. Nothing held back.

He doesn't just want a part of me. He wants complete control of everything I am. Body, soul, mind and spirit. So, it IS important to You! What I think, what I wear, how I act....You want it ALL. Wow!! How beautiful this picture of self-less love is. Your Word really is my guideline for living. Thank You. Thank You! You didn't leave anything out :)

Yes, a few deep questions were answered for me today. I'm thankful that my Master taught me. Just a side note: whatever I am feeding my spirit and mind on will eventually show up in my appearance. Is this a New Revelation? I don't think so.

My prayer: Lord, give me Your heart for those things that are truly important. Let my outward Lady not be ruled by Hollywood, the latest trend or other's opinion and my inward Lady be seasoned with love and gentleness. Because if I don't love it, I won't live it. Let my mind be filled with Christ-likeness so that when others see me~they see You. Thank You, in Jesus' precious Name...amen.

"When I was a kid...."

I couldn't believe I was saying this....I sounded just like my momma!

She said it everytime we visited this place. I was ever so glad when she didn't refer to her past.

We climbed the dusty, gravel road with bumps every few inches. Our 2007 Dodge minivan hasn't known roads like these before!

I soaked in the sunshine and enjoyed every crook that road led us down. My mind flew back to the years I'd wandered down this same road as a kid with my cousins. Dirty feet and soggy clothes from swimming in the creek all day and eating hot dogs, marshmallows...just junk, pure junk!

I peered over at my curly girl and her brother remembering that this land was completely foreign to me as a child, too. I was raised in the city with Walmart and a Mall near our house. At that time, I didn't know if I really liked this sort of country life-style. Maybe the ticks and mosquitoes liked me too much, or it could of been the fact that my Uncle Les and Aunt Wanda made their kids do the dinner dishes. We called it a vacation, but for me it was important life lessons that I now appreciate! Whatever the case, it was only until we were leaving to go home that I realized how much I truly enjoyed myself.

Aunt Wanda's fresh, brown country eggs were always more tasty than those bought at Kroger. I couldn't stand the sight of a raw, skinned catfish after we caught several. But the taste, after they'd been fried, was unbelievable!

Today I peered out the kitchen windows of Uncle Lester's cabin at my boy fishing on the dock of Little Black and my heart swelled with memories. This cabin had undergone many nice changes since I slept here as a kid, but it was still a part of my childhood. I remembered the beach and floating down the river on a raft. I wanted to sink back into those times for only a day.

And, here I go, saying it just like my momma, "When I was a kid...." I smiled knowing that my kids could care less about my goings on. But whatever the case, let me say it anyway! :)

Selah....continued

Day 5 at Granna's

"Adore"

Every female on this planet wants to feel that they are adored by someone. Camilia had written. Though over a century later, Selah felt the fervency of that statement. Even as a newborn babe, a girl knows if she is being loved and adored by her parents. She must feel wanted...needed...loved. Camilia's words made a lasting impression on Selah.

Selah felt stronger today. She was sitting on the wicker porch swing sipping iced tea and devouring the next volume of Camilia's diary. Katie was sitting neatly on the braided rug beside Selah's hand bag. Granna was working on the front porch giving her miniature poodle, Sassy, a good bubble bath in the metal washtub. Sassy was obviously enjoying every scrub.

"Granna, did Grampa make you feel adored?" Looking up from the journal, Selah asked inquisitively.



Granna paused to think for a moment. Grampa had been gone for four years now. "Grampa sure loved me an awful lot, honey." Then she spoke quietly, "I loved him, too. He was a man of respect and honor." Then she thought a little more. "Say, you may not completely understand what I'm telling you right now. But throughout time women have desired to know that their Prince Charming on his white horse lives only for them. That's why there are so many romantic stories of princesses!" Granna smiled. She continued, "There's been alot of disappointed wives when they discover that soon after the ceremony their man wants to go fishing....without them!" Now Selah was laughing. Sassy barked in delight as she jumped from the wash tub and shook off water all over Granna! It was a sight!



Although, sprinkled with Sassy's bath water, Granna was enjoying the entertainment. She sat down beside Selah and smoothed her blond ringlets between her fingers as she whispered in a more solemn voice, "Never expect too much from those you love and you'll never be disappointed. " Granna took a sip of iced tea and continued, "Honey, Jesus adores you...He made you so unique and special. Always remember that He will never disappoint you." Her words touched a tender place in Selah's heart. She knew it was true.

"Come on, Say, let's go make some ice-cream! My neighbor just brought me a bushel full of fresh picked strawberries and I just know they are gonna be delicious in that cream!" Selah closed the much admired journal and picked up ever observant Katie as she and Granna went in the house arm in arm grinning at the prospect of homemade ice-cream.

(to be continued)

Selah....continued

Day 4

Warm Peppermint Tea, A Diary & Rest

Sweat beads dripped down Selah's forehead as she threw the quilt back and sighed.

The worried look on Granna's face was exchanged for a smile of relief. "Honey, you've been shivering like a frog on ice for the past two days. Your Granna is thankful this fever's finally broke." Selah gave a weak, tired grin.

"Sorry I came and got sick on you, Granna."

"Don't you fret about this, Say. Getting sick is just an unfortunate part of life! God puts an amazing 'fight back' in each of us...and that's what you've been doing. I sure don't know what brought it on, except that maybe you just needed to rest..here at Granna's." The smile was back along with a warm cup of herbal tea. Peppermint tea. Selah's favorite.

Granna closed the door behind her as she went back downstairs.

Selah pulled herself up in the soft bed and leaned against fluffy pillows. She looked over at the pink Wild Wonder rose bouquet...the bright sunny window with shades partly drawn...her nightstand with Bible close at hand.

Hmmm...the last thing I remember was going to bed cold...really cold. Wonder if Granna's called Momma yet? Oh, I hope not! She'll worry about me. Selah's thoughts were whirling as she happened to notice an old book laying on her night stand under her Bible. The book looked worn and well read. She picked it up and, out of curiosity, opened the yellowed pages.

Looks like a diary. Wonder who.....Oh, it says here....Camilia Elaine Staten. I remember Granna saying that she was Ivey's sister. Selah began to read.

"October 6, 1889 'I peered through this upstairs, bedroom window of my sister Ivey's house. The sun shines through as I see him very distantly working in the garden....' " Selah drew in her breath as she wondered who he was? She remembered Granna had informed her of that Aunt Camilia never married.

Selah felt a tinge of guilt over reading someone's private writings, but curiosity got the best of her and she continued.

Selah turned on the lamp beside her bed just as she finished reading the first volume of Aunt Camilia's diary. Oh my, I must have been reading for hours! This is was so intriguing that I just couldn't put it down.

She giggled as she read about Camilia's teenage twin brothers trying to paint Ivey's kitchen...paint spilled everywhere! Tears filled her eyes when she discovered the love that Camilia had for him was never returned. He was never revealed by name. Although, Selah had a full description of what he looked like and even his reserved personality.

Camilia's handwriting was very flowery and exquisite. She must have been beautiful! Selah imagined her to be as beautiful as her name. I wonder if she knew God. Her last thoughts were interrupted by Granna's entrance.

"How are you feeling, Say? You look better." Granna had brought up an enticing tray of chicken and dumplings, buttermilk cornbread and a tall glass of fresh lemonade. Selah's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Granna! I'm starving! I hope it was alright that I've been reading Aunt Camilia's diary. I just finished it."

Granna touched the old book. "I left it here for you, honey. There's so much history there. You need to know who you are." Selah didn't quite understand that statement. Granna continued, "Your ancestors have left each of us a rich heritage. Something to be proud of! I'm bringing you the next three volumes of Camilia's diaries. She very carefully documented much of our family's history during that time period. Camilia died young, but left a lasting legacy in diaries."

As Selah tasted the delicious dumplings, she pondered in her heart....It's so sad to think that Camilia didn't get to have children and live a long, happy life! She sounds so creative and interesting.

Granna explained that she had all Camilia's diaries safely stored in the attic. Ivey had put them there when Camilia passed away. She wanted to preserve as much of her sister's memory as she could. Granna promised that Selah could take them home with her to read and study if she wanted to. Selah excitedly agreed that she would be very careful and return them as soon as she finished reading them.

Selah was still left with the question when Granna kissed her good-night, I wonder if Camilia knew God?

(to be continued)