men and boys

They say you can tell the difference

between the men and the boys

by the price of their toys.

May 31, 2012
Family, fun outside, Photography, Tennessee, the hill
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In the fall on 1976 we purchased our first home. After signing the papers and paying our down payment we had $50.00 left in our bank account. We paid $12,500 and laughed over the fact that the new Cadillacs in the car lot across the street were the same price and higher than our home.

Seeing the condition of the house (it wasn’t a home yet) our well meaning friends questioned if we had shopped around enough and were we “sure” this was a wise purchase. We knew with a lot of sweat and love we could conquer the ugly beast and make it our first home.

We had one baby, Jimmy was working in a factory, I had an in home piano studio and we worked on the house in our spare time. When we removed the orange door Jimmy was going to trash it but my father put it over head in his garage for storing boards on top. When Mom moved to Tennessee in 2010 Jimmy decided he wanted to keep that old door and put it in our retirement home some day. It now hangs in the kitchen at the hill. A reminder of our beginning and God’s blessings.

Part 2

Being a lover of the old unique items of the past we rescued the hanger off the old orange door and it has been hung in every home we’ve lived in. When we saw the marks on the back of the door we wondered if the hanger would fit. (A little forgetful over the past 30 some years). Just like Cinderella’s slipper it was a perfect fit.

So the hanger is back in its original home.

Part 3

After locating the hanger we decided to go diving in the old hardware we have held on to from here and there. And sure enough…. we found both sides of the original door plate and the door knob. No key. I don’t think we ever had the key.

Moral of the story.

So how is this a reminder of God’s blessings?

Deb Fields is a worrier and a doubter about how things are going to be taken care of financially. I’m not proud of it, but it’s a fact. Worrying and doubting never helps pay the bills. Planning, praying and trusting is a better approach. We always try to plan and make wise decisions with our money but surprises like doctor and dentist bills, cars breaking down, factories closing, paying insurances, etc. just happen. That old door reminds me of how faithful God has been to meet all of our needs and also pour abundant blessings onto our family. Don’t be a worrier like me. Be wise in your decisions and turn the rest over to God. God is faithful.

Enjoy counting your blessings. deb

May 30, 2012
blessings, faith, Family, Photography, the hill
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From zoos and volunteering to funerals

So yesterday was a wild and crazy fun day at the zoo, this morning will be a happy time with friends volunteering at the Attic, and then this afternoon providing music for a funeral. One thing being a minister’s wife and a musician does is keep living, really living , in perspective. We all ride on through this up and down roller coaster of life until the day our earthly ride is over.

The Dash

By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth

And now only those who love her know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,the cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives like we never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…

Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is read with your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

Dashing off into another day of this and that. Peace to you and yours. deb

Zoo + 7 grandchildren = fun

Birthday presents this year for the little ones were family zoo passes.

Katie decided that Memorial Day would be a good day for us to meet at the zoo.

It was a special treat to see Katie and Anna two days in a row. Thank you for coming over.

Then we add Navy Grace.

Piper and Millie

Anndee Kate and Jedidiah and…

Santa Claus!?!?!?!?!

I didn’t realize their feet were pink.

Can you imagine sleeping like this?

Navy and I were trying to decide if the bamboo is tall or Navy is small.

It was a good day.

The ends!

Tags: m

May 28, 2012
Family, Photography, fun outside, animals, Tennessee, zoo, wildlife
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Comforter

com·fort·er n.

1. One that comforts: the nurse as comforter of the sick. 2. Comforter Christianity The Holy Spirit. 3. A quilted bedcover.

2004 was a busy year for our youngest daughter Monna and I. We learned how to make rag quilts. We made big ones, little ones, pretty ones and funny ones like Jimmy’s bug quilt.

And most of the quilt gifts are still being used on a regular basis.

Toward fall Monna kept disappearing into her bedroom with a KEEP OUT sign on the door. I’d hear that sewing machine zipping away but I was NOT allowed to go anywhere near her room. In November friends and family surprised me with a birthday party and this was the secret Monna was working on all that time.

Our other quilts were just squares but Monna decided to create a special design just for me. Smile

She wrote a love story with no words at all.

This back side is nice and smooth to the skin when you get all cuddly.

And you can see the great texture on the front side. It’s just a perfect love gift.

Today we celebrate Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit. God’s promise fulfilled that He would never leave us or forsake us. God wrapping himself around us being our comforter.

Life ain’t perfect. Things happen. But God is with us always. Remember…God gives us the choice to include him in our lives and our daily decisions. The key word there is choice. God is ever present through the good, the bad and the indifferent and life is best when we choose to include the Comforter. So cuddle up in a favorite quilt….

…have a talk with God and let God be your comforter.

This is what Brother Jimmy Honey and blog dog were doing while I wrote this post.

Peace to you and yours this and every day of the Comforter.

The Comforter Has Come

Lyrics: Frank Bottome, 1890. Composer: William Kirkpatrick.

O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let ev’ry Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!

Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To ev’ry captive soul a full deliverance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come!

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!

O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!

May 26, 2012
comforter, communication, craftiness, faith, Family, Photography, stitching, worship
2 comments

Ronald McDonald House Nashville, Tennessee

Ronald McDonald House

Nashville, Tennessee

Sometimes we have to devote our time as adults to help develop qualities and pass the baton on to our youth. Today was an awareness trip to the Ronald McDonald house in Nashville, Tennessee.

We gathered can tabs from everywhere. People started showing up with bags and jars of all sizes full of tabs. We had heard that they received $3,000 per gallon but they receive the pound value of aluminum when they are turned in. $15,000 in 2011.

We also donated the quilts for babies, children and parents that need extra comfort.

Our guide was overwhelmed by the quilts we donated and expressed how important they were to people in their extreme time of need.

We were invited into the family room where this wonderful volunteer gave us information about the house.

The house is always full!

32 families are housed for the time needed.

They always have a waiting list for people to stay.

3 suites are available for patients that need separate quarters.

The fee is $15.00 per day for families financially able to pay.

Nobody is turned away. Partial payment or no payment is acceptable .

Families are surrounded by caring people and have a comfortable place to stay.

Thanks for stopping by. deb

Coke tabs and quilts

Good morning and a happy sunny Saturday to you all. Our youth group is headed to Ronald McDonald House this morning to deliver over three gallons of tabs. Our daughter who has also collected tabs said the value is $3,000 for each gallon. What an easy way to help people who are enduring stressful situations.

We are also delivering quilts made with love and prayers. Big quilts, little quilts, colorful quilts, cuddly quilts for people struggling with extreme health problems. This project began when a family in our church lost their baby. They wanted to give unexpected love to others when they need it most. Many quilts have been made and donated to many hospitals.

Maybe, just maybe I’ll be able the SNAP while we are out and about. Later…. deb

Is tree climbing genetic?

A long, long time ago when I was a pup, we had two trees in the back field that consumed many hours of my summer adventures.

One tree had fallen over so we walked the plank, set sail for high seas, turned it into a car, a bus, a plane and away we went on our summer magic carpet rides.

Then there was the old apple tree. Half of it was gone and the half standing had the very best limbs to climb. When I was running toward that tree I knew I was going to be engulfed in a huge hug from mother nature. We scrounged the neighborhood for old boards and nails and tools and made steps and a perch up as high as we could. I got my first batch of poison ivy and my first kiss at that old apple tree. The tree lingered on in the same place, the tree house deteriorated but the wonderful childhood experiences that helped shape my imagination and my love of God’s big wonderful world are a part of my core forever.

Our girls are tree climbers as well. I relived the joy of youth and imagination as they climbed trees and experienced their own magic carpet rides.

As you can see from Betsy’s photo, our grandchildren are having a blast in their tree. It’s just now summer, school is out and it’s time to play.

Play children.

Breathe fresh air.

Stretch and grow your bodies, minds, and imagination.

Enjoy God’s beautiful world.

And remember…..Life is Good!

So my question for the day is….Is tree climbing genetic?

Tags: nature

More bling for Granny

So Granny decides she needs a trip to Charming Charlies which is a HUGE jewelry and accessory store. She’s wanting a certain color of earrings to go with necklaces in her collection. You know how important it is to matchy matchy.

My daughter Monna says, “Why would she wanna go to Charming Charlies when she has you to make her jewelry?” And Monna was right because we bought nothing in CCs and went directly to Michael’s to pick out jewels for her new designs. I posted several pieces the other day and here are the rest.

Hand wrapped wire necklace and earrings.

We made the button necklaces with the lovely ladies at Morning Point assisted living.

Granny brought over one of Dad’s favorite bolos a while back and asked if I could make her a necklace. His name was Don and her name is Donna so that works well. I finally decided on the turquoise and silver and found the clasp that seems to go well enough. She saw it in progress yesterday and said,”I have another bolo at the house”. You know what that means?