tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737980600410279182024-03-12T17:57:16.417-05:00Life from the HeartLife From the Heart is my journal, my memories, my legacy and my heart for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, both old and new, so they will know who I was as a child, as a daughter, as a sister, as a wife, as a mother, as a grandmother, as a friend and so they will know what has made me who I am today.Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-41531270961634965492020-09-18T18:30:00.009-05:002020-09-20T20:38:27.181-05:00When We Pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the first month of a new year and a new decade came into view, the heavy clouds hung so low, reaching up, I could almost touch them and the claustrophobic fog seemed to enveloped me, obscuring my vision of the world around me.<br />
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Little did we know that after the glitter and tinsel of Christmas 2019, the lack of snowfall of the winter season and the chocolate hearts of Valentines Day 2020, the world would fall into chaos and change would be our future.<div><br /></div><div>Neither did I know that a health issue with one of my children would lead me to a radical change of faith and prayer.<br />
<br /><br /></div><div>"Therefore, I say unto you, what things you desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" Mark 11:24 </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>On December 24, 2019, during a Christmas gathering, my 43 year old son, Brandon mentioned the fact, he was having trouble with his right eye. He described a blurry spot that would not go away and that he had become very sensitive to sunlight. We strongly encouraged him to see an optometrist as soon as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8K_2wNfuUbr8KV_JsEqEw2WgjJpKPfn08beT1aaRN_Wn83u99Jc1WIB1_kEBncemCIiSS0gGswmF7LM-ts2u-UORKIE6W_N1Djo7kR9ner8JPvGe7xFiOtyI52nsQvXCsQQsuZY7qCk/s1232/20140511_164002-1-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8K_2wNfuUbr8KV_JsEqEw2WgjJpKPfn08beT1aaRN_Wn83u99Jc1WIB1_kEBncemCIiSS0gGswmF7LM-ts2u-UORKIE6W_N1Djo7kR9ner8JPvGe7xFiOtyI52nsQvXCsQQsuZY7qCk/s320/20140511_164002-1-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><div> After a few texts to keep reminding him, an initial appointment was made in March 2020.</div><div>As the world started to shift with the news of the Coronavirus, our personal world shifted as well, when he received a diagnosis of Macular Degeneration. </div><div>It was thought to be in the mild stages, so a follow up appointment was made 4 months later in July 2020. I won't even try to describe the emotional blow or the racing thoughts, as those 4 months crept by at a snails pace and the world continued to lock down in fear and uncertainty. But, living and praying in faith and knowing God was in control, I knew he would be okay, whatever his future held.</div></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Faith does not always take you out of the storm, but it will calm you in the storm"</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMU-t1xjiQ19t6tT_lZyclB8slgbT0Htvvqa819RK_Fc10Hf38WXWWowWubLfp2N65ZYKvIm0ExSwiRxvtI2xJVuZIRHXvTWBjTEIU45JGthXIB54JZmYH9XeAyf6HKsNK_MRxnc0d5w/s331/visit+with+Brandon+and+Kellie-1-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMU-t1xjiQ19t6tT_lZyclB8slgbT0Htvvqa819RK_Fc10Hf38WXWWowWubLfp2N65ZYKvIm0ExSwiRxvtI2xJVuZIRHXvTWBjTEIU45JGthXIB54JZmYH9XeAyf6HKsNK_MRxnc0d5w/s320/visit+with+Brandon+and+Kellie-1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The July appointment; the doctor maintained the first diagnosis, but since the inflammation had progressed rapidly, he decided to send him to a specialist at Vanderbilt. Ten days later, Macular Degeneration was ruled out and a second diagnosis was given. Birdshot Uveitis, a rare disease, most likely caused by an autoimmune disorder resulting in extreme inflammation in the lining of his eyeball. </div><div>Complete blood work and chest xrays were done and prednisone was prescribed to prepare his body for a drug normally used in cancer treatment, to treat the disease that had attacked his eye. </div><div>A second visit to the specialist at Vanderbilt consisted of a discussion about taking part in a clinical trial because of the rarity of the disease. Results of the labs and xrays had not been completed and the word "Lymphoma" was floated among the discussion between the doctors.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><b><i style="background-color: #93c47d;">Show me the path where I should walk, oh Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:4-5</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I will never doubt God directing my steps and placing me where I needed to be to grow in faith at a time when faith was needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>May 10, 2020, Mother's Day, we were able to return to a modified church schedule and sometime in mid-August, we resumed a small group study on Sunday night. The study was on Faith, using a small book written about 70 years ago by Manley Beasley, a powerful man of God and a man of great faith. </div><div><br /></div><div>In reference to the verse <i>"<b>Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" </b>Mark 11:24 </i> </div><div>Manley said, "if you have been praying for something, when are you going to believe that your prayer is answered"? When you see it? True faith is believing, when you ask, that it is already done. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUe4Kbpuoc2XW3-qK8GWKjKo4jZi3OXPJ7xxcQ7-xhyphenhyphenE5QhMIgFmgLRbw1KaTApewj8OJPM_VBWzhdtc0JrsqvyrYbDKiEwB2Mv93wxUPseHD3YoZjprXyu9iyfxrFr5NXQkQH9jSHR0/s877/FB_IMG_1600457393114.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="658" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUe4Kbpuoc2XW3-qK8GWKjKo4jZi3OXPJ7xxcQ7-xhyphenhyphenE5QhMIgFmgLRbw1KaTApewj8OJPM_VBWzhdtc0JrsqvyrYbDKiEwB2Mv93wxUPseHD3YoZjprXyu9iyfxrFr5NXQkQH9jSHR0/s320/FB_IMG_1600457393114.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>"Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." </div><div>Hebrews 11:1</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus promised that "What things soever ye desire, when you pray, believe (act) that ye receive them and ye shall have them" </div><div>Mark 11:24 </div><div>The supply is there before our need is acknowledged. </div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, my dear friend posted her daily devotion on facebook based on the scripture from Luke 8:43-44. </div><div>*"And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak and immediately her bleeding stopped." (NIV)</div><div>The woman simply believed that the Lord could heal her and she acted on it. </div><div><br /></div><div>In our world today, we have reduced and redefined faith to mean, I think, I hope, I wish....when in reality, faith means confidence, trust, assurance and obedience. Every prayer we pray should be an attempt to touch the hem of his cloak (or garment KJV).</div><div><br /></div><div><div>On August 30 2020, halfway through this Faith Study, and a discussion with my pastor, my prayers changed from asking for healing---- to believing and thanking God for the healing He was already doing in my son's body. </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but the unseen." 2 Corinthians 4:18</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On September 10, 2020, with a dread of what the tests had revealed, Brandon went in for a consultation for the results of his blood work, chest xrays and the next step in his treatment. </div><div><i><b>His blood work was negative for any abnormalities and his lungs are clear.</b></i>..and by the way, he's been a smoker (almost 30 years) since he was a teenager and <b>his lungs are clear! </b></div><div><br /></div><div>It has now been determined that the problem with his eye is caused by a fungus that lives in the soil in areas of Tennessee. He most likely contracted the fungus by breathing it in while working; crawling under houses installing duct work for HVAC systems. He will continue treatment with the eye drops and the time frame could be lengthy, but the road to restoration of his eye is so much brighter. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>* "Every prayer should be filled with the kind of faith that will seek a miracle." and I am claiming God's miracle!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"When a child is in need, it is evidence that the supply is already there"...</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> Manley Beasley, Adventures in Faith</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnqr-Bz0xu04FJLSu7BndmKVh6yt7XDJckZx6kBHQiIfPmGfZ9TMd_e34gGtB8nqttCy9hKBLw3Fn6DITbVSGkWpS8HFwmirTeSjaExxUNsx459xKNnFTQTqFi8qFHepGBZ7uzYGhyqA/s902/20190929_121523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="811" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnqr-Bz0xu04FJLSu7BndmKVh6yt7XDJckZx6kBHQiIfPmGfZ9TMd_e34gGtB8nqttCy9hKBLw3Fn6DITbVSGkWpS8HFwmirTeSjaExxUNsx459xKNnFTQTqFi8qFHepGBZ7uzYGhyqA/s320/20190929_121523.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>* some content taken from my friend, Mary Martin's morning devotion post</div><div><br /></div></div>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-3280094072398872032020-01-17T12:24:00.004-06:002020-09-15T12:57:13.181-05:00He Speaks With Purpose<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE18jCxAJLgi0q8XdyjteZi5_cjSNe9guLkTSKZMV05qwJzMi4AMwiEVHgjoMlTC44wQkZAlvow_PFy6vurstSFpAqR35aOKA6OoRxW41HMHGZID3U15aS5Kg2a4wJiG2fkTQHvIBJHc/s1600/20160217_154515.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZE18jCxAJLgi0q8XdyjteZi5_cjSNe9guLkTSKZMV05qwJzMi4AMwiEVHgjoMlTC44wQkZAlvow_PFy6vurstSFpAqR35aOKA6OoRxW41HMHGZID3U15aS5Kg2a4wJiG2fkTQHvIBJHc/s320/20160217_154515.jpg" width="320" /></a>We recently started a 13 week bible study on Sunday nights at our church; "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby and his son Richard Blackaby. The study, for me, is a startling reflection of the 3 years we spent on the east coast of Florida, where God lead us to a church that was instrumental in maturing and growing our faith.<br />
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In a face book posting, as we were preparing to leave Florida and move back to Tennessee, I expressed the experience of a "Sunday school teacher that 'made the bible come alive' in a way that reached deep, leaving us hanging onto every word..... and a pastor's 'preaching the word' kept us hungry for the next Sunday and the next sermon...truly restoring our souls."<br />
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The "reflection" that I see of those years, in this study, also projects a <i>glimpse</i> of the work ahead he is inviting me into today at the church we have made our home.<br />
As I am going through the homework this week, day four "God Speaks to His People" leaped off the page at me this morning, reminding me of a blog I had written about a year after arriving on the sunny shores....... as I mention in that blog, I heard the voice of God say, "restore your soul" (Dec 2014) <br />
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Blog post Oct 2016~~~~~~<br />
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"The voice of God; what does it sound like?<br />
The rumble of low thunder as a storm rolls in? The roar of a mighty lion claiming his territory? Maybe more like the sound of the ocean waves as they rush to the seashore? Perhaps, even like the faint echo from a mountain top as it bounces across a canyon, the soft coo of a morning dove or just as silent as the flutter of a butterfly's wings?<br />
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However He chooses to communicate with us, He does speak, just as surely as he spoke to the prophets in the old testament and to his disciples as he walked in flesh in the new testament. Priscilla Shirer says in her book, Discerning the voice of God, "one of the most common reasons we don't hear His voice is we simply are not listening".<br />
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Retirement was something I always thought of as a long way off in the future, a reward for the sacrifice of trading my time for dollars. The world I had surrounded myself with for so long began to fall away......like the peeling away of the layers of an onion or maybe it was more like the layers of a scab, healing a wound left by years of being tossed back and forth in the sea of the work world. What I didn't expect was that retirement would cause such a loss of identity that would take a while to find again. And as each layer fell away, the new world around me began to look differently than what I had imagined it would be.<br />
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At the end of that first year, when the rush of life stopped rushing, when the noise of the busy world became quiet, when the mornings called me to sit before His majestic handiwork and listen, I heard the voice of God say.........</div>
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"restore your soul"</div>
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Since that day, 'His plans for me"(Jeremiah 29:11) have changed my view from the quiet serenity of a little farm pond to the crashing waves of the Atlantic ocean. He has taught me that restoring my once stressed and work weary soul, can only be done by letting the layers covering the scabs of the past to drop away. He has whispered "wait" (Psalm 27:14) to my soul......<br />
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I sat quietly this morning, drinking in the beauty of the view of my tropical world from the screened porch as well as my morning coffee and reading a devotional from Holley Gerth's "Do You Know You are Already Amazing".<br />
The title, "You Don't Need to Do It All" was taken from the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10: 38-42. The attitudes of the sisters were totally different: Martha felt the need to do it all, while Mary felt she needed to give Jesus her all.<br />
So many times we believe we have to do it all, give it our all and we are left worn out by the world. It's at that weakened time, the enemy of our souls sees us distracted and moves in to steal our peace, leaving us worried, upset and stressed out as we often experienced in the workplace. Even though I have found retirement to be a reward and a reprieve, a chance to restore my soul, the same reward can be found on a quiet Saturday morning looking out at the wonders God has created, whether the view is a mountain top, an ocean shore or simply the birds outside our window....a few minutes alone with our maker can set things right with our world.<br />
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As Holley Gerth points out, <i>this story isn't really about the attitudes of the two sisters, it's the attitudes behind <u>our choices</u>. Both Martha and Mary loved and served Jesus, but on this day, only Mary wanted to enjoy Him. It's up to us to make a different, better choice. Scripture says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13)</i><br />
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Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-48358015728352014522020-01-01T19:32:00.003-06:002020-09-25T14:32:47.673-05:00Paradise.....A Place, A State of Mind or A Condition of the HeartToo much time is lost on trivial things like fear, self pity, doubts, guilt, regret, waiting for things to change or until things are perfect.<br />
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"Life after work" at the end of 2013 took me on a journey to a place where the awareness of time and how little of it we actually have surrounded me on a daily basis. Living on the "younger" side in a retirement community, watching so many enjoying their golden years and also seeing the other side of aging, has given me a better understanding of what James meant when he said, " How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like a morning fog---it's here a little while and then it's gone". (James 4:14)<br />
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At the time of this writing, three beautiful houses sat empty across the street from me, where "the mist of the morning fog" was gone for the sweet seniors who had occupied them just a few months before. In God's plan, every life is long enough and every death is timely. And though, we all might wish for a longer life, God knows better.<br />
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In October 2017, traveling south on I-95 toward Melbourne Florida on a return trip from Tennessee, I watched my car's odometer as it turned 100,000 miles. It was a serene moment as my thoughts raced back to the day, 4 years before when it sat, brand new, in my driveway. This was my reward of 4 decades in the working world. My retirement wheels that would take me into the next season of life.<br />
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As the numbers rolled over, my thoughts rolled back over those 4 years to the places I had been, the people those places represented and how different the next season of my life looked from the plans I had made. My dream after retirement was to expand my home-based business, grow an additional income, travel, earn bonuses and deepen my down line. After more than a decade of juggling a side gig of a home based business with a full time 50+ hours a week job and fully believing Jeremiah 29:11, building that side gig after retirement was just the next step toward the "dream." ....but, the thing I didn't know at the time; my plans didn't line up with His plans.<br />
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"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4<br />
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It's funny how we think we can plan our future, dream our dreams, take steps to fulfill those plans and dreams, but somewhere along the way God's plan will start to weave itself into our hearts, our soul and our minds, leaving us looking at our lives with entirely different eyes......and sometimes it means taking us on a 3 year sabbatical, 800 miles south to do it.<br />
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During the 18 month transition from life on the farm to the flip flop castle, we had begun to feel the Lord's leading in our decisions; doors opening and angels being placed in the doorway, so to speak........... I could fill a book with the divine leading in this journey from His voice saying "restore your soul" to His pressing upon me to "burn the ships".<br />
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"He speaks, if any of you wants to be my follower you must set aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it, but if you give up you life for my sake and for the Good News, you will find true life." Mark 8:34-35<br />
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Often, we are willing to obey God, but we want to keep our ships (dreams and plans) up and working.....just in case. It is comforting to have a "plan B" waiting when obedience isn't convenient anymore. But, God desires that we "burn our ships", annihilate any other means of departures and throw ourselves wholeheartedly into what He has asked of us. Now, granted, I was not aware of all this at the time, but I could not find peace in my new surroundings until I began to let go of those dreams and plans and even the material things I had taken with me.<br />
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We live in a society filled with more distractions that we can possibly count and more obligations than we can possibly meet. Is it any wonder why so much of God's beauty is overlooked? I had lived in that world a few short years before, rushing from day to day, missing so much of the things He had put in my life, so many of the wonders and so much of the joy ........but then He beckoned me to paradise.<br />
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"The Heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim His handiwork". Psalm 19:2<br />
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"The sunshine spills over the the green carpet of the golf course that stretches out beyond the windows of the sun room, where I sit sipping my morning coffee, allowing it to wash the sleep from my eyes, letting me focus on the world around me as I read this scripture. In reflecting on these words, I am once again in awe of this scene unfolding before me just as it has done the last 3 years. Each morning, I am given the privilege of witnessing this wonder from my favorite spot, the spot where a metamorphosis has taken place within me." (taken from my journal and morning devotion).<br />
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We all have dreams of what our lives will look like; dream jobs, dream families, dream lives.....but the thing about dreams is that we can so identify with them, we lose all true bearings about ourselves.<br />
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In a story written by a minister, I read about the dreams we build around our lives being wish-dreams and wish-dreams becoming idols. The story told of a ministry being taken away and later the realization that the ministry had become an idol, a ministry that was more about a man than about the glory of his God.<br />
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My plans, when my new car had only 11 miles on the odometer were wish-dreams. God saw that, saw the road ahead and sat about changing my direction, my desires and my dreams.<br />
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I Am Sent.......An Incubator of Faith<br />
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Our home for 3 years was in Melbourne Florida, in the growing community of "Viera" which ironically means "true faith". After moving into our new home inside the gates of Indian River Colony Club, a military retirement community, we settled in for a couple of months before venturing out to find a place of worship. On November 1, 2015, we visited the nearby Church of Viera where the 1st message I heard was "I am Sent".<br />
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Believing that the purpose for being lead to this place was to fulfill my dreams and define my purpose in the work of the Lord, I focused on the "I Am Sent" part. I tried to absorb this message as "being sent" to accomplish something outside of myself, missing "The Incubator of Faith" as the message God wanted me to hear......It wasn't until 3 years later, and going back to this message many times, that the reality of it was made clear.<br />
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"I am sent ....... an incubator of faith" Acts 9:10-19<br />
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An "incubator" is an enclosed apparatus providing a controlled environment for the care and protection of the premature or underdeveloped.<br />
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">A"faith incubator" is a period of time when our underdeveloped faith is matured and our life purpose is clarified.</span></span></b><br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">Just as Ananias had been sent to minister to Paul in his spiritual infancy, I know without a doubt that even though the journey meant a relocation for us, the Ananias' of ministers that awaited us at FBC Melbourne, were surely a work of His hands. </span></span></b><br />
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On January 7, 2018, after some prompting and nudging from the Lord and the decision had been made to move back to Tennessee, I commented between Sunday School and Worship Service that we had certainly been "saturated with the word" in the past 2 1/2 years. These words received confirmation the next morning when I opened my devotional book to find these words for Sunday's devotion.......</div>
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"I give you my word to saturate and transform your heart so that it will be unshakable in the midst of uncertainty. Keep yourself under control when everything in life is out of control. Know that everything is in My control and you can trust me. Life is going to take you many directions, but I'll be there along the way to guide you into My will. It may not be the path you would have chosen, but if I am with you, there is nothing to fear. What you can't do, I can." </div>
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..<i>.from He Whispers Your Name Devotions January 7 2018</i></div>
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<i> " </i>Don't let your heart be troubled, Trust in God and Trust also in Me" ....John 14:1</div>
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Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-37458952789719885942015-02-20T16:43:00.011-06:002020-09-25T15:04:06.445-05:00God, Teach Me How to WonderAs I opened my devotional guide this morning, I found myself playing catch-up. This week had finally brought winter to our area. Ice, snow and record low temperatures had caused a temporary pause in our normal daily routines, slowing us down, with our thoughts turning to taking care of our family's basic needs of surviving with possible power outages, road safety, staying warm and having enough food and household supplies.<br />
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The change in the weather at the beginning of the week turned my focus to the beauty of a snow covered ground, icicles hanging from the edges of the house, trees, left bare by the autumn winds now covered in shimmering ice crystals, a frozen pond....the wonder of it all! Trying to capture this amazing handiwork of God through the eye of a camera always leaves me disappointed, but maybe, just maybe....<br />
we were created to only capture His true wonderment though the eyes of our soul.<br />
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Last Monday's lesson title "<i>The Beauty of Wonder</i>" seemed so appropriate as I reflected on the past week.<br />
Often, we go at such a pace, we forget to stop and look at the world around us.......we forget to <i>wonder</i>. "Taking time to stop and wonder at something, to really look at it---it's like tuning into the music that the world is making, the music that God is making through the world."<br />
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Over the past year, after retiring from a fast paced work life, I have had the time to slow down and really enjoy the beauty of the seasons in my own back yard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWWYVqhIyOTYQDlJwzfBQdhrl_ua5inTy2ylP4iziv4vNCKIDwWOVREjnJAtpTCjMc-8P42HIbkZMjhf-aVMmz8Epyntx1LNoxVIYQ_sC6N6BBl4tr1P74UWYCHqUwx5dMiC9GYGuNLI/s1600/10718211_10203877466968507_533667745_o.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWWYVqhIyOTYQDlJwzfBQdhrl_ua5inTy2ylP4iziv4vNCKIDwWOVREjnJAtpTCjMc-8P42HIbkZMjhf-aVMmz8Epyntx1LNoxVIYQ_sC6N6BBl4tr1P74UWYCHqUwx5dMiC9GYGuNLI/s1600/10718211_10203877466968507_533667745_o.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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I have been amazed at the peace and tranquility of spending a early spring morning listening to the birds singing their songs of praise of the brand new day<br />
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<div>or enjoying a good book sitting beside the calm waters of our picturesque summer pond. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9bCqjQSq-1BVXH8kxDqHWdrIf9Sb8i5gsagG6DvgY5AMGOB4HVz0QvO4lN_9didiJa7XPSN10MvE57QDmjcRPia2Hp38sq2DLCnWlrq8bqFiadOY98CL4bh6u4Wteb9Rv3RFXMvUbkY/s1600/10707570_10203815882428932_1935249202_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9bCqjQSq-1BVXH8kxDqHWdrIf9Sb8i5gsagG6DvgY5AMGOB4HVz0QvO4lN_9didiJa7XPSN10MvE57QDmjcRPia2Hp38sq2DLCnWlrq8bqFiadOY98CL4bh6u4Wteb9Rv3RFXMvUbkY/s1600/10707570_10203815882428932_1935249202_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgworJTDEWqUD_lP6a6DnPMssft1xwia1qCp9F_Y8BKWkAN_HBvsCJW4lKmPVz5oswAr0cJg3nWPqtpn7LD98p9GffOn-Fe8xAr56CgshoMxiDH-MzJMoXiWSaQv4R8toqSG8MPayb4O44/s1600/10754703_10204105862558254_1962991290_o.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgworJTDEWqUD_lP6a6DnPMssft1xwia1qCp9F_Y8BKWkAN_HBvsCJW4lKmPVz5oswAr0cJg3nWPqtpn7LD98p9GffOn-Fe8xAr56CgshoMxiDH-MzJMoXiWSaQv4R8toqSG8MPayb4O44/s1600/10754703_10204105862558254_1962991290_o.jpg" width="200" /></a>Capturing the perfect angle of the old farm gate and the landscape beyond <br />
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<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>or the colors in the wardrobe of the beautiful autumn trees reflecting on the pond<br />
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or the first flakes of a winter snow have truly<br />
created a soul-appreciation of wonder in me.<br />
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<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am also aware that even in a</div><div>
broken world, God has filled<br />
it with so much beauty and goodness.<br />
<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Wonder is paying attention, paying attention to the beauty that surrounds us....even snow days are thrown into the middle of a busy schedule to cause us to stop and wonder, to make memories with our children or grand children, to remind us of the comfort of a soft blanket and a cup of hot cocoa in front of a warm fireplace......"we must not become so busy that we lose our sense of wonder. Wonder, listen to the music that God is making in His world."</div><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJUBN-Y7w8Z55uG2XSczMe5rFTOt_XHxQN81Yy0p-sRtupbWxwGUw-b4j7OZcOt9CIajd89wfE5BHwRMTjKtMHOmfCaFf9VU_gWpSk4BUMOSYSJc2DPY44V3AkkXD1W7-5jK6alVv7sM/s1600/10571502_10203384514925014_979600816_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJUBN-Y7w8Z55uG2XSczMe5rFTOt_XHxQN81Yy0p-sRtupbWxwGUw-b4j7OZcOt9CIajd89wfE5BHwRMTjKtMHOmfCaFf9VU_gWpSk4BUMOSYSJc2DPY44V3AkkXD1W7-5jK6alVv7sM/s1600/10571502_10203384514925014_979600816_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"This little interruption will soon be a memory as the south awakens from it's brief winter slumber and green grass pushes through the dried dead stalks of last season, green leaves bursts out of their buds, new life spurts up from the frozen ground followed by beautiful spring flowers......such a beautiful show of the wonders of God".</div>
<br />The Psalmist says it best<br />
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"You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it. The river of God is filled with water; You provide their grain; for so you have prepared it. You water it's ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows, You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. You crown the year with Your goodness and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered with grain. They shout for joy, they also sign." Psalm 65:9-13<br />
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Let me always keep the sense of wonder Lord, teach me how to stand in awe of You~~~~<br />
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This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)<br />
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" Journey, a woman's guide to intimacy with God."<br />
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Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-47412332001033761462014-10-20T00:39:00.000-05:002014-10-20T12:37:52.049-05:00Where The Journey Leads<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5cyzGEFPNY7gsjv3YpjpbV29wuT59nTI9hhKgnWO48hd4xP02uyoHqUjP23HOybY8JlRQbPxXWL5GuVgQT3ecaLbzJGdfoNffHF0Y3HMRJcr0y8CuTpdzsJdQFP47_8VFtKZ0WOnUU0/s1600/10177153_10202593018698103_217766294_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5cyzGEFPNY7gsjv3YpjpbV29wuT59nTI9hhKgnWO48hd4xP02uyoHqUjP23HOybY8JlRQbPxXWL5GuVgQT3ecaLbzJGdfoNffHF0Y3HMRJcr0y8CuTpdzsJdQFP47_8VFtKZ0WOnUU0/s1600/10177153_10202593018698103_217766294_o.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>"I don't mean to say I am perfect. I haven't learned
all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally
be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am
still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on one
thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to
reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up
to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us". Philippians 3:12-14 (The
Living Bible) <o:p></o:p></div>
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When she pulled off the fast-paced highway of the working world
in the middle of winter, she had no idea how different the pace on the country
road would be. The cold January mornings found her snuggled under a blanket in
front of the fireplace with a warm cup of tea while former co-workers made
their way to the workplace on icy, dark roads. She felt blessed and privileged
that her corporate working days were finally over. Waking to the sunrise
instead of the alarm clock soon became a passion and drifting through the day
without a schedule gave her wings of freedom. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As winter turned into spring, the feeling of freedom and a
care-free summer ahead was exciting. Vacations to the beach or spending time
with family and friends without consulting someone else’s timeline had been
something she had given up many years ago when entering the working world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“Come on over to my yard<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Sit around<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Let your troubles all disappear<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Come on over to my yard<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>‘Cause right now Heaven’s right here” (Jeb Loy Nichols “Heaven’s Right Here”)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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An so it
was, mornings spent in her garden, surrounded by God’s feathered choir and the
sun beckoning her to enjoy this moment she had earned….<o:p></o:p></div>
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The giddy feelings of freedom were refreshing during those
first few months, but the giddiness, it seems, is wearing off. Frankly, the
increasing feelings of freedom are somewhat overshadowed by the feeling of being
completely trapped; trapped somewhere between what was and what is to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not long ago Mondays were to be dreaded and faced with blinding determination to get past the start of the work week. Tuesdays were a
little better, like the second sip of something bitter…it went down a <i>little </i>easier. Wednesdays were the half-way mark of the fast
paced race to make it to the finish line. Thursdays were the big push to get it
all done so Fridays could be glided through with ease into the freedom of the
long awaited weekend that would, no doubt go faster than the speed of light
right back into someone else’s timeline. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Days now come and go without the speed and stress of a few
short months ago and are often undefined by any particular activities. Finding
joy in this new found freedom is fleeting and finding a level of discipline to
this new pace seems just a bit out of reach. In a season of discontent, she finds herself
in the spin cycle of change, searching for something to hold on to…. a passion……a
purpose. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When it’s time for a
change, you can feel it in your bones, and there’s nothing like that feeling –
the feeling of chasing something new. Excited, anxious, happy…maybe even a
little scared…but those feelings drive us towards the starting line of
something fresh. There comes a time when we want something more, and there
comes a time when we need something more. It can build up slowly, or catch you
by surprise. Either way, you know it’s time to skip to the next scene, press
play, and let the magic of the unknown excite you. (Author unknown)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-51113561839917486072014-02-28T09:01:00.000-06:002014-03-04T21:55:36.672-06:00Too Late in Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HKUP0XJeCibyS2L83UjjU3JzkpHU8opYDogkLjHMaRKYu8W09U2c-X4EdtcStLWocT3qYtIgxFXYF6yBsehv6jCjfFm-kkbVRfObjov6r6Cqj0AkSBrmx61tZpJsI72L5stie6uS3Js/s1600/1011942_177815205720896_1961122513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HKUP0XJeCibyS2L83UjjU3JzkpHU8opYDogkLjHMaRKYu8W09U2c-X4EdtcStLWocT3qYtIgxFXYF6yBsehv6jCjfFm-kkbVRfObjov6r6Cqj0AkSBrmx61tZpJsI72L5stie6uS3Js/s1600/1011942_177815205720896_1961122513_n.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a><br />
"<i> one day you will wake up and find there won't be anymore time to do the things you always wanted to do...do it now".</i><br />
<i>Paulo Coelho</i><br />
<br />
<br />
I watched the shadows of 80 plus years pass over her well worn face as Mary spoke of dreams left unfulfilled. Her voice was shaky and trembling hands caressed her prize possessions as she told of her dream to own a shop to display all her antiques and music artifacts. Would there have ever been a price tag that would actually give her reason to relinquish even one of the treasures she held dear to her heart? The world will probably never know, as the dreaded disease of the elderly slowly takes over, but in that moment in time as Mary's eyes revealed the depths of her soul and she uttered the words, "it's a little late in life to think about that now", time stopped and my mind raced......<br />
<br />
I know I am not promised anything beyond this very moment, yet I am always looking ahead, dreaming that next dream and touching that next life. As my thoughts raced to the journey I had just begun, I couldn't image not fulfilling the dream of running my own business; a business that could touch and change so many lives.<br />
<br />
I truly believe each of us is born with a purpose in life. Max Lucado tells us in his book, "The Cure For the Common Life", we are born pre-packed. When God formed us, He looked at our entire life, determined our assignment and gave us the tools to fulfill that purpose. It is our job to unpack our tool bag and use the tools (skills) specifically assigned to us. Many times we go through life trying to use the tools from someone else's bag and we find ourselves discouraged, hopeless and unfulfilled. We race through each day complaining, frustrated, and stressed out trying to meet their expectations, never finding that "sweet spot" God intended for us. In finding our sweet spot.....our uniqueness that comes when our successes and our passions intersect.....we find joy and contentment in what we do and without a doubt, it has nothing to do with money or self recognition. God packed us with special tools so we can make him known (1 Peter 4:10-11) and to serve others (1 Cor. 12:7).<br />
<br />
I think about the lives I have touched and those who have touched mine in the past and know it has prepared me to relate and give to many more in the future with what God packed in my tool bag; encouragement, confidence building and now, the opportunity for financial change. <br />
<br />
We drove away that afternoon as Mary stood in front of her home where she felt secure and at peace with her surroundings, waving goodbye. I have only known her in her later years, but at that moment I knew there stood a woman who had lived her life looking back, holding on to the past and dreaming dreams she would never realize and my heart cried for her loss.<br />
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<br />
(Psalm 33:13, 15) The Lord looks from Heaven; He sees all the sons of men......he fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.<br />
<br />
Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-84864019369953592982014-01-21T07:03:00.000-06:002017-04-07T18:10:34.920-05:00Finding the Better Part<div class="divLightBox">
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It's
Monday and for the first time in more than 37 years, I'm not headed out
the door to face the challenges of a corporate work day. If fact, I
have just returned from a wonderful, exciting, fun-filled weekend with
over 6000 friends and business partners who are either doing what I'm doing this morning or
working their way to doing what I'm doing......working from home, being
my own boss, setting my own schedule and running my own business! As I
begin my day and I find myself searching for that "quiet time" to read
scriptures, to meditate and find that something.......that quiet voice
to feed and nurture my soul and spirit, I pick up one of my favorite books,
"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. This book has
helped me through some rough spots during the last few years of being a
"Martha" as I tried to juggle the stress and tension of a hectic, time-consuming work
schedule, build a future home based business and make time for home and
family. The order in which I list these activities are sadly, the order
in which they have dominated my life; being a Martha and longing for the
chance to just be a Mary sometimes.</div>
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<span class="lblUserContent Hide" style="display: inline; height: auto;"><br /></span>
<span class="lblUserContent Hide" id="rptrPost_ctl00_lblMore" style="display: inline; height: auto;">In the story found in <b>Luke 10:38-42</b>, Jesus and
his disciples came to town and a woman named Martha opened her home to
them. Her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to what He had to say
instead of busying herself in the kitchen with Martha. Martha was
distracted by all the preparations that had to be made and got ticked at
her sister for not helping, so she went to Jesus and asked, <i>"Lord,
don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell
her to help me!" Jesus politely said "Martha, Martha, you are worried
and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has
chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her." </i></span></div>
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<span class="lblUserContent Hide" id="rptrPost_ctl00_lblMore" style="display: inline; height: auto;">For so many
years, I have reflected Martha in my day to day life with long, stress-
filled work days. </span></div>
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<span class="lblUserContent Hide" id="rptrPost_ctl00_lblMore" style="display: inline; height: auto;">January 2014 is the beginning of a new segment in my life. I am still a Martha, but my time is my own and Mary
will be more visible as I schedule each day on my new journey, seeking
the better part in each of them. </span></div>
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<a class="BlueLink mts Left mls" href="http://www.penmia.com/Memories.aspx#_=_" target="_blank">
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Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-45400110756955847802012-11-10T19:57:00.002-06:002017-01-31T10:50:33.360-06:00Life After The Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As I sit looking over
the breathtaking view of the mid-morning farm, the bright blue sky and the
sound of the waterfall in the pond, I am in awe of how quickly autumn is
fading. The beautiful crimson and gold that adorned the trees only a couple of
weeks ago are quickly turning to darker shades of brown. I can't help but think how
this transition only parallels to how quickly change will come in the next few
weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
I know he will be fine and is ready to step into his own greatness, after all,
that is what we have been preparing him for the last 19 years. I am so proud
yet at the same time, melancholy.....just as he brought change to my life 20
years ago, he will change my life once again. <br />
Autumn; a time to harvest, to assess how well the growing season produced, a
time to put away the tools used to work hard during the growing season
and a time to look at the bountiful fruits that have been produced....I
would say the fruits of our harvest have been exceptionally good.................</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGclwN8BZzd99dnt33dd7HUjCMjohjwPsteT0MTehbJMvSj83f2iowCEiEz-wlnGzaZ023E9BX_aXkH46vm2hHcNsqYzm34OHYMaCShQKQdKVzsB3qDed1rWLBIsMxnfgvvR6FxmksPY/s1600/7-19-2008+6;47;25+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGclwN8BZzd99dnt33dd7HUjCMjohjwPsteT0MTehbJMvSj83f2iowCEiEz-wlnGzaZ023E9BX_aXkH46vm2hHcNsqYzm34OHYMaCShQKQdKVzsB3qDed1rWLBIsMxnfgvvR6FxmksPY/s320/7-19-2008+6;47;25+PM.jpg" width="245" /></a>November 2012 ………2012? Where has the time gone? I’m sure if
I sit here and travel in reverse in my mind, I will find most of the years,
months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds that have slipped by while I was
busy living my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also possible
that more of those precious moments of time were wasted or idled away than I
would want to admit. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Today marks the beginning of the final week of my role as
“mom” as it has been for the last 39 years, as I prepare to release my baby
boy into the world to make a life of his own. Mixed emotions surround me as I
prepare for the adjustment of an empty house, the absence of piles of dirty
laundry and dirty dishes in the sink, not to
mention the clean laundry that never makes it to the drawer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some of the other things I will have to adjust to is not
hearing him ask if I worked out or ran on the treadmill today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that at the ripe old age of 19, he
has become concerned about my health and wants me to take care of myself. For
that I am grateful and grateful that all those years of teaching him to eat
right, insisting he take just 2 bites of food he thought was yucky and only
allowing him a “sweet treat” when he had a “happy plate” at dinner time, is
paying off. Not only is he concerned for my health, he is very conscious of the
need to keep himself healthy. The days of the ”Blue Moon” cabinet are long
gone, but the lessons taught will live on! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7Gk4YhKKQ93YZOaPgeyi6KKnEA6_5STzXJ-3OJP0jtJR7s3PNGN2oD1qijkYIXLnwPUvPJjLXXfk2W63Voo_p5Gs8zRu1Pew2rBu6NuipPT0qWsUggVsGEa_rn5_NCAJxa3BghmcKE4/s1600/11-10-2012+6;20;58+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7Gk4YhKKQ93YZOaPgeyi6KKnEA6_5STzXJ-3OJP0jtJR7s3PNGN2oD1qijkYIXLnwPUvPJjLXXfk2W63Voo_p5Gs8zRu1Pew2rBu6NuipPT0qWsUggVsGEa_rn5_NCAJxa3BghmcKE4/s320/11-10-2012+6;20;58+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As I began to write, I wasn’t sure what direction my thoughts
would take me……. would I pour out my fears of what might be beyond the doors of the
home he had grown up in or would my tears blur the words I wrote as I thought about the
loss of the last child that depended on me for unconditional love or would my words be filled with doubt that he was ready to
face the future without his mom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oEi3XmJQbvUotf6YRPzda8ntHBR-9AuPdptKV71-7c3cMqNoakhgzLbSSwNPgxSbT5j1YDdH5toCrDAuVcHRYrhekYgXOdVXgJvErtU41trPIPgYuOFUu4JFt6G0UMgPRyJjL8WJnHY/s1600/11-10-2012+6;24;16+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oEi3XmJQbvUotf6YRPzda8ntHBR-9AuPdptKV71-7c3cMqNoakhgzLbSSwNPgxSbT5j1YDdH5toCrDAuVcHRYrhekYgXOdVXgJvErtU41trPIPgYuOFUu4JFt6G0UMgPRyJjL8WJnHY/s320/11-10-2012+6;24;16+PM.jpg" width="188" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since I know he would not want me to mention any of that mushy mom
stuff, I will focus on the fact that since the day he was born, I have prepared
for this day. The day he would be able to step out into the world a man, ready to take
care of himself; to be able to make decisions and learn from them if they were the wrong
ones; to be respectful and courteous to others, but not let others take advantage of
him; to know I was always there and ready to support him and supply him with the things he
needed and most of the things he wanted. Some of the things I wanted for him
were not things he wanted and that’s ok; it taught him to make decisions
for himself and taught me he was a person with thoughts and ideas that were different from mine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have learned so much from
him, things I wish I had known while raising his older brothers, like not taking
the crazy stuff boys do so seriously, that they grow up to be responsible no
matter how much you worry, scold and fret. I am also secure in the fact that
when I am no longer watching over him, he will still have his Heavenly Father to walk by his side, watch over him and supply his needs and I am secure in the fact that he knows his Heavenly Father as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuzfIoG8W6T_gQNwSaFSTJIW1ewkyV-uBjaMb2wsudIvSul8YrpggpavJIyT6VASCajQWAtxJHG1k0SI_qsZics6Rvf-9hDI9m2pvoefhg4Xe1f0yPsmqOIAkwe81OrfIpW1pSwKNpO0/s1600/100_2507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuzfIoG8W6T_gQNwSaFSTJIW1ewkyV-uBjaMb2wsudIvSul8YrpggpavJIyT6VASCajQWAtxJHG1k0SI_qsZics6Rvf-9hDI9m2pvoefhg4Xe1f0yPsmqOIAkwe81OrfIpW1pSwKNpO0/s320/100_2507.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I am thankful for a son, that has been such a joy to parents
that were looking forward to watching their teenage children grow into adults 20 years ago, hoping to make it through the difficulties of their teen years and come though on the
other side as survivors. But, they found that God was not ready to let them off that easy.
I am thankful for a son who made it easy on his parents by breezing through his
teenage years without the difficulty that they could have faced, because they would not
have had the energy to deal with it! I am thankful for the opportunity to not only
teach him the things moms teach their children on a daily basis, preparing them
for life, but the opportunity to be a part of his education to prepare him for life in
the work world. Homeschooling gives parents insight to their child that
they would otherwise miss. So, I am truly thankful he wanted to be educated at
home during his high school years, giving his parents those years to learn
about who he really is.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h3G2Om8N0OXvPenVo2b2YlUgklEa4x64P_RERAppjlB_YhJeebDLfZK4kvJxKD-KwTtwBOPC1iRxk0Kw8Iuzqd3BOW4U2O0JcZG_vp8fXG1LC0Xd8krBYLkk7f0aCynEpIC0BoPIapw/s1600/3-23-2008+11;10;41+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h3G2Om8N0OXvPenVo2b2YlUgklEa4x64P_RERAppjlB_YhJeebDLfZK4kvJxKD-KwTtwBOPC1iRxk0Kw8Iuzqd3BOW4U2O0JcZG_vp8fXG1LC0Xd8krBYLkk7f0aCynEpIC0BoPIapw/s400/3-23-2008+11;10;41+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So will turning my son over to the USAF be difficult? Will
I mourn the loss of my last child..... leaving me to adjust to another life time? No way!!! I will pray
for those who will now take on the responsibility, I will watch in
anticipation as he takes his place in the world he is walking in to, and I will rejoice in the
fact that my job is over and that I am free to ask, “What’s Next”? </div>
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4alLzYnYjRhV-Tic26Y80uFKI_-EZKL8QEs2Kfr4x0Msr8MliTg0r8tzhxugaVr8v8p3oeoYpIPVPa7qa4fYCFLRvc6QArmJ49DN8WfgFzKHtXFV2WbSSJe8n90noVZZflrhJGb9f2s/s1600/7-30-2008+7;58;28+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4alLzYnYjRhV-Tic26Y80uFKI_-EZKL8QEs2Kfr4x0Msr8MliTg0r8tzhxugaVr8v8p3oeoYpIPVPa7qa4fYCFLRvc6QArmJ49DN8WfgFzKHtXFV2WbSSJe8n90noVZZflrhJGb9f2s/s200/7-30-2008+7;58;28+PM.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHZ2dIUL_0lEtGToNhPPnQIcRVz140r_m-iMQv_Kk_0w3JxFjj1cEGveFoaOC3oCRR5rrOjvR-lwuOI0DPIpIfM_fx8qqmmqCDhQwJSgIHda62NQwL7Iq1LJszLyH4gdQSBm3xFDlFlM/s1600/314709_2215899328427_1457959191_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHZ2dIUL_0lEtGToNhPPnQIcRVz140r_m-iMQv_Kk_0w3JxFjj1cEGveFoaOC3oCRR5rrOjvR-lwuOI0DPIpIfM_fx8qqmmqCDhQwJSgIHda62NQwL7Iq1LJszLyH4gdQSBm3xFDlFlM/s320/314709_2215899328427_1457959191_n.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-75820726452885336562012-10-12T14:03:00.001-05:002015-08-10T13:48:31.719-05:00Season of Change In Paris (Landing)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l4cw4wkoceWmqCQXMVkIFqePpQY5Yri2FIUXjlPtHp4ltBpV1kki0rJK1RjQh9JEXYYPAVjawKOwueKWKwpuu0FPD0ussitxzQCS5kkCS00BZnyEPOKlfn1vF5fveK9nOPY8k2AqekU/s1600/PA040068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l4cw4wkoceWmqCQXMVkIFqePpQY5Yri2FIUXjlPtHp4ltBpV1kki0rJK1RjQh9JEXYYPAVjawKOwueKWKwpuu0FPD0ussitxzQCS5kkCS00BZnyEPOKlfn1vF5fveK9nOPY8k2AqekU/s320/PA040068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
October..... such a fascinating month! With the arrival of October, summer finally comes to an end, nature sheds its bright green foliage and begins to dress up in colorful shades of red, yellow and orange, the mornings become cool and crisp, the haze of humidity gives way to bright blue skies and the Branches Sunday School ladies retreat to a secluded hideaway weekend in the mist of God's colorful Autumn Handiwork........<br />
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This marked the 4th Annual Ladies Retreat and just as in years past, this excited group make our way from different directions, from home, from work, from Dickson, from Nashville, from Clarksville......the direction we come from is not as important as the direction we are going because we have waited a year to come together again.<br />
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Laughter is on the menu as we gather around the table to share the evening meal. Soon the laughter turns to howls, leaving our faces sore and making it hard to maintain a proper posture while holding our sides. Updates on family and friends and the latest happenings in the world around us become standup comedy routines.<br />
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The regular routine of game night is replaced by the sharing of a simple story of a New Year's dream of restoring the love and passion for the things God has been so gracious with and seeing those dreams becoming a reality by His Grace. Sharing is what "sisters" do best, without judging and with confidence in the fact that <i>what happens at Paris Landing stays at Paris Landing</i> and in our hearts. From serious to hilarious, the bond between us is strengthen and with giggles and yawns, bedtime arrives well after midnight as the sound of the cool fall rain on the roof sings us to sleep.<br />
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Morning arrives on golden sunbeams streaming through the wall of windows that open to the deck. The air has taken on the freshness and crispness of fall after the rain of the night before. No one is in a hurry as we take turns with our morning routines, getting ready to meet the day. Breakfast is delayed as we wait for the arrival of one of our own who has had a minor travel setback. But soon she arrives with yummy bagels in tow and once again we gather around the table, feeling blessed by God's goodness that protects us and sustains us. The change in temperature has brought another change in the regular routine and the annual walk is set aside as we settle back and discover our true colors. It is amazing how discovering little things about yourself puts other things in prospective.<br />
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With new found aspects of our character, we pile in and head out for the shoe store!<br />
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With bargain finds tucked away, the prospect of a different kind of treat for next year is researched and a spa holiday begins to formulate. Breaking tradition again, we make our way to an Octoberfest at a nearby church. Browsing the booths and attractions, the aroma of the grilled delicacies appeal to our palettes and we break for lunch. Before leaving, the bake sale beckons us and we zero in on a scrumptious pan of Brownies with Mocha Frosting......mmmmm, shoe shopping and chocolate; two main passions of the American woman!<br />
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Then it is on to the book store that has a sale just for us!......well, it might just be the sale is an annual event at the same time as our annual event, but it does make us feel special and we always take advantage of our special sale, each clutching our precious Bibles, books and gifts as we exit, followed by warm goodbys from the owner and staff, inviting us back again next year. <br />
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Finally arriving back at the Chalet, we now refer to as home, it's "shoes on the runway" as shoes are modeled and admired by all.<br />
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Dinner on our last night together consisted of a delicious and healthy salad bar and then we start digging into that pan of Chocolate Guilt. With every bite, the sound of pure pleasure can be heard and feeling guilty was not on anybody's mind. Maybe the guilt will surface next week when we have trouble with our clothes being a little snug, afterall, we did ditch the morning walk!!!<br />
With the fireplace giving us a warm and cozy feeling and the temperture outside becoming chilled, we settle in for a relaxing evening where topics vary from present relatives that connects us to long ago discoveries on our family tree. <br />
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As the late night eventually turns into early morning, we rise and begin to pack for the trip back to our prespective homes. Sitting around the table once again for our final meal together, we each take turns with our own contribution to our devotion time. It is amazing how each of us can share something different and it all falls together like a puzzle to make an impression we can take home with us. <br />
The clock has no mercy on us as we wanted to linger, so with our final goodbys, the weekend was over, leaving us to dream about 12 months in the future when we would do it all over again........<br />
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Thank you Lord for Friendship and Laughter</div>
Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-75120286276332288442012-01-14T19:14:00.002-06:002020-09-26T10:07:27.072-05:00January.........The Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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January 2012......Mama had a birthday this month and if she were still here on earth, she would have been 76 years old. I want to dedicate the first month of the new year to my mama and to my sisters.....just as we look to the new year as a new beginning, we are thankful to our heavenly Father for giving us our own beginning with a mother who always put her girls first and opened her heart to everyone God put in her life.........<br />
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Mama would be so surprised we have made it to the year 2012! She was so certain the world would end and we would all be home in heaven before we saw the beginning of another century. Well, the world still stands, but she couldn't wait around any longer and went to be with our Lord in 1997.<br />
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Well, Mama, if you are watching from that little "Cabin in the Corner of Glory Land" you always sang about, you know we still miss you and carry your memories in our heart. And if I were guessing, God had something greater for you than a little cabin......He was, no doubt, waiting to welcome you into your "Stately Mansion" that you now share with our sweet daddy.<br />
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Mama, Dessie Mai Spears, was born on January 8, 1936, the 4th child and 3rd daughter to Grady and America Spears. She grew up in a large family <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNwovhcBfiCRq0LoQrduCHU1qul9vaNGuM5DCzovpUIsN7KZfCiF8Uxj8kn81WxVCR-rfpTc6ReTQG6w9_xNbwPBF4l9K87BvtWjW_MWuCllb9lie0WFTJqCinr050Aq1eBhMvx4Pl40/s1600/1-14-2012+2%253B40%253B12+PM.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNwovhcBfiCRq0LoQrduCHU1qul9vaNGuM5DCzovpUIsN7KZfCiF8Uxj8kn81WxVCR-rfpTc6ReTQG6w9_xNbwPBF4l9K87BvtWjW_MWuCllb9lie0WFTJqCinr050Aq1eBhMvx4Pl40/s200/1-14-2012+2%253B40%253B12+PM.jpg" width="139" /></a>of 11 children.<br />
I remember growing up and visiting my grand parents on Sunday and seeing all my cousins, aunts and uncles. In a book I have started and hope to finish one day, I recall those Sundays at Mama and Papa Spears' house. <br />
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"Sunday at Mama and Papa’s was a treat. My sisters and I got to play with a whole different set of cousins. Mama came from a large family of 10 children. Actually, there had been another sibling, the oldest boy who had died at the age of 12 with appendicitis. Mama had 3 brothers and 6 sisters; she was the 3rd from the oldest living children. In the early years, mama and her 2 older sisters were the only ones with children but slowly the family grew…. </div>
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Going to Mama and Papa’s was the highlight for our mama after a long week; this was an event we all got dressed up for. Mama would dress her girls in little hand-made dresses she had proudly sown or altered from hand-me-downs. Thinking back to those days, I can imagine the excitement mama must have felt getting ready to go home and visit her family. She was such a young girl at the time, married and already a mom. My memories are vivid when there was only my baby sister and me. Mama was about 20 years old at the time and she was raising a family among her "new family" who were practically strangers; how exciting it was to go home and visit with her mother and sisters. The laughter would echo from the kitchen as they prepared the Sunday meal. When the meal was ready, the men always ate first. When they were finished, the dishes were washed and dried, then the table was set for the women to gather and eat. When they finished their meal, the dishes were washed again and the children finally were called to the table. There was always enough food for everyone, but occasionally all that was left of the fried chicken were backs and wings. Mama later told her girls she didn’t like making the children wait ‘til last’ and that is why at our mama’s house, the children were always served first." </div>
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It is hard to imagine Mama as a child and young girl. but pictures tell the story when we are not there to see for ourselves. </div>
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<span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Mama was sweet 16 and daddy was 26 when they fell in love and got married. It was not uncommon at that time for girls to marry early and they usually married older men. We grew up listening to the stories mama told us about how they had meet and married. </span></div>
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<span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> Happy Birthday Mama......... it doesn't manner how many years go by, you will always be forever young in our hearts. The lives of your children and your grandchildren are so much richer by having you as the beginning of who we were, who we are and who we will become. </span></div>
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Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-54785349608601303132012-01-02T13:48:00.005-06:002020-09-25T15:52:05.043-05:00Happy New Year....Moving Forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUC2IKWNhfw/TwIJSI5RgaI/AAAAAAAAAWA/SC-JTH6xixc/s1600/P1260126.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUC2IKWNhfw/TwIJSI5RgaI/AAAAAAAAAWA/SC-JTH6xixc/s320/P1260126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> December 31st 2011- another year has come and gone. I have struggled to find the words as to how I would like to embrace the new year, to make it different or more productive than the last. Resolution is a word that seems so shallow....resolve what? What problems did I encounter last year that I need to resolve in this new year? Well, yes, I need to shed some weight, be more active.....really need this, my metabolism has vanished....organize and de-clutter......stick to a budget....all the obvious things we let get out of control.<br />
But, all these things just don't appeal to me as I think about writing on the pages of my book of 2012. <br />
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As I reflect on these things and on the past 12 months, I am drawn to reflect on Philippians 3:12-14 <br />
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"I don't mean to say I am perfect. I haven't learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us." (The Living Bible)<br />
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So, what do I want for 2012? Where do I want to direct my energies and embrace what lies ahead?.......I want to Fall in Love!<br />
Now before everyone gets the wrong idea and rumors start flying.......I want to fall in love with life, with everything God has put in my life and with everything God has planned for me. Do you remember falling in love?....how everything was new and exciting, when you woke up in the morning there was a "Joy" and "Excitement" in your heart that carried you through your day and "Enthusiasm" bubbled from every thing making it hard to go to sleep at night because you didn't want to miss anything? I want to feel that "Joy, Excitement and Enthusiasm" each day of 2012!<br />
I have a decorative plate that has a quote, "Don't let the Weeds grow up in your Garden of Dreams". Now, I know that to dream is to hope. Faith, Hope and Love go hand in hand and without these three, God's promises are being denied. This past year has had some challenges and somewhere along the way, I have allowed the joy that motivates the passion in my Garden of Dreams to be choked out by the negative weeds of life.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. </span><span style="color: black;">I want to "fall in love" with spending time with my Father in Heaven to gather the strength I need each day</span> to <span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be</span><span style="color: black;">..........</span></span><span style="color: black;"> I want to "fall in love"with spending time with my precious family because time is really all that matters when it comes to family......I want to "fall in love"with my church and extending my time to others in need..........I want to "fall in love" with rekindling friendships that I have neglected, losing that connection of those who have touched my life along the way, I want to " fall in love"with the job that God graciously put me in and gave me the passion to continue in it for 35 years and I want to fall in love with the "business of my dreams" that will allow me to reach out and bless others and will replace my job in the near future. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">"All my days were written in Your Book and planned before a single one of them began (Psalm 139:16)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">My New Years Resolution is to follow the plan He has for me......and to cultivate my Garden of Dreams to His Glory ...........</span><br />
<div style="color: #674ea7; text-align: center;">------That Being Said-----</div><div style="color: #674ea7;"></div><br />
2011 brought with it many blessings, the announcement of a new addition to our family, a grandson from Ethiopia, Isaiah James Griffith, who hopefully will join his forever family this year.Wish I had a picture to share but that will come............<br />
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The birth of another grandson, Charlie Braydon Reid, joining his now 4 year old brother, Jaylon.<br />
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We also watched our son, Alex and granddaughter, Caitlin,<br />
turn 18 years old, graduate from high school and enter college.<br />
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We were proud to see our grandson, TJ,<br />
enter the armed forces,<br />
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We were there to see our granddaughter<br />
Tracie Lee in her first Miss Teen Pageant<br />
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and saw granddaughter Lauren turn "sweet sixteen".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-EFqHPuTrQ/TwEHjiM-5jI/AAAAAAAAAUk/2XppxKZLrPY/s1600/mckayla+and+emily.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-EFqHPuTrQ/TwEHjiM-5jI/AAAAAAAAAUk/2XppxKZLrPY/s320/mckayla+and+emily.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>We also witnessed the transformation of our granddaughters, Emily and McKayla, into teenagers, all of which have grown up way too fast! <br />
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These blessings would not have been possible without the Heavenly gifts of our beautiful children who have truly blessed our lives. We are thankful to God for the wonderful adults and parents they have become.<br />
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With God's grace and guidance..........we will continue to adjust to the peace and quiet of an empty nest, watch our baby boy change directions and enter the armed forces, track the path of our grandson as he makes choices for his life, love on our grand babies every chance we get, stand in awe as our beautiful granddaughters continue to grow into beautiful young women, wait patiently for our sweet Ethiopian grandson to come home and spend more time with our precious children, making memories.......<br />
<br /><b><i>Update: The dream of our Ethiopian grandson was never realized, because God had another plan...in the form of a 4 year old little boy right here in the USA. Our Grandson Henry is such a sweet addition to the family and we are so thankful God had a plan for him and for his forever family.</i></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQr8bmtTPGpVmeA1D59ZHCLlIuHaMYe5UvGVy1Xzo6FnVj-XIhdKR2Xc2hgGf1pYbED6LyoGc7hE7P9l8VmH9CxzCqy38R424CXa2vnP07FxcU-1WA4J5YLml7DKnrCJqE28S2_y4JeU/s536/13062868_10209686672831648_4048448400679732107_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQr8bmtTPGpVmeA1D59ZHCLlIuHaMYe5UvGVy1Xzo6FnVj-XIhdKR2Xc2hgGf1pYbED6LyoGc7hE7P9l8VmH9CxzCqy38R424CXa2vnP07FxcU-1WA4J5YLml7DKnrCJqE28S2_y4JeU/s320/13062868_10209686672831648_4048448400679732107_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">"I don't mean to say I am perfect. I haven't learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us." (The Living Bible) Philippians 3:12-14 </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 2012......God, Family, then everything else</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></div>I opened my One Year Devotional Prayer Book to start the new year and found the perfect New Years Resolution......."My dear heavenly Father, it is my desire to be a women of integrity. Realizing that I am what I am by the grace of God, please so work in my heart this day that the tongue in my mouth and the tongue in my shoe are going in the same direction. I realize that if I am to effect others for your cause, You will have to do it through me. I surrender to Your control now and ask You to be in me, no longer me but You."</div>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-62622644209000988582011-11-20T16:36:00.001-06:002012-04-15T15:52:26.736-05:00The Season of Changing PaceAs 2011 heads to the finish line, November has brought a change of pace for me. The fast track for the last few months has left me searching for that quiet corner, a place to retreat, collect my thoughts and reflect on what lies ahead for the new year.<br />
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October was so busy with each weekend crammed with activities and events, but as November opened the door on the last of the beautiful fall colors before the cold breath of winter comes blowing in, the weekends once again became mine.<br />
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From the first one, celebrating my birthday with breakfast at Ace Diner<br />
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.......to the second one touring the Rail Road/Civil War Museum in down town Dickson and lunch with my hubby once again at our favorite little eatery nearby (Ace Diner) .<br />
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The Museum holds so much history of the county we decided to make our home over 16 years ago. We never knew how much the Civil War had affected the lives of the residents and how the railroad brought so much industry into the area.....thank God for the time to slow down and connect with the community we have come to love.<br />
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Today was number three in a row.....4 girl-friends and I spent a Slow Sigh Saturday morning in nearby Waverly, TN in a wonderful, not so little, gift shop where we were in awe of the treasures inside. The ordinary looking gray building on the side of highway 70 did not give a hint as to what we would find inside. As we browsed the nooks and crannies of the unique gift emporium, thoughts of what would put a smile on the faces of our loved ones on Christmas morning danced in our heads and tugged at our hearts. Emerging from the building after almost 2 hours, we loaded our finds and headed further into town to check out a local Cafe for a light lunch.<br />
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The Waverly Cafe was just the spot to sit and talk and enjoy a delicious meal of Homemade Chili and a Provolone/Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese with a touch Italian. As we entered the Cafe the aroma of fresh brewed coffee welcomed us at the door, beckoning us to come in and have a cup......and what a cup it was.....bigger than the soup bowls, but just the size to wrap two hands around and sip as we chatted without a thought to the clock. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROjRyuLBOY5QDNprcFSRN0OSOs77MK2xwWc9Xql3a8H10XfEQUAvjzzMU0xrPKWGGEy6qxjAVIfA90IkGX5yiw-tNP_-VXdoOZGR-92s57R87ielfYP8CcsJKj8vRd8Yn_kBnH4Cg90c/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROjRyuLBOY5QDNprcFSRN0OSOs77MK2xwWc9Xql3a8H10XfEQUAvjzzMU0xrPKWGGEy6qxjAVIfA90IkGX5yiw-tNP_-VXdoOZGR-92s57R87ielfYP8CcsJKj8vRd8Yn_kBnH4Cg90c/s320/174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span id="goog_1325386252"></span><span id="goog_1325386253"></span>Thanksgiving Day will lead into the final weekend of November. I am so thankful for this beautiful time of the year, for the brilliant colors, the warm days and cool nights, a time when we can slow down and let our thoughts turn to family. The days ahead will take on a bit of magic as we enter the Christmas season and our thoughts will include our Blessed Savior and the celebration of His birth.<br />
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The new year will bring changes and adjustments, but I will put my trust in the Lord to guide and protect my family as we follow His plan for us in 2012.Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-69559860883503986122011-11-05T20:36:00.000-05:002011-11-05T20:36:51.672-05:00Hillsboro High Family Reunion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TvqT3Hv_J9XpppE6UKwXOB-lYCPwU8Nm_TKiVqBBEpJ480zbJynSgsa3lesGfKK9OP9-tPJGg54FOlKdMte0UrjWY9dq8FL3ArZV12pEyPtt9aH_oWp-g71qeKQy7u4U50PsOWN1MDw/s1600/Hillsboro+High+Reunion27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TvqT3Hv_J9XpppE6UKwXOB-lYCPwU8Nm_TKiVqBBEpJ480zbJynSgsa3lesGfKK9OP9-tPJGg54FOlKdMte0UrjWY9dq8FL3ArZV12pEyPtt9aH_oWp-g71qeKQy7u4U50PsOWN1MDw/s320/Hillsboro+High+Reunion27.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>October 29, 2011..... almost 40 years after Hillsboro High School in rural Williamson County Tennessee closed its doors on the last graduating class, the former students came together again! <br />
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What a reunion it was, with students from graduating classes as far back as the early 40's to the last graduating class in 1977......<br />
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As a Hillsboro High student for 4 years and a graduate of the class of 1973, I had the privilege of being in the "Hillsboro Family" of classes a few years before and a few years after my graduation. Hillsboro School was a small school in which the classrooms were filled with families, students who were more like brothers and sisters and had known each other since kindergarten or 1st grade. As we came together to share in this reunion and reconnect with lost friendships of years before, it was difficult to remember exactly who graduated with who.......we were reunited as one family.<br />
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"Reunion" seems so inadequate in describing the day, the coming together of a family who had not seen each other in decades. The hugs, the smiles, the joy in recognizing that long ago friend....there are no words that fit!<br />
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Of course, everyone could not be there and it was evident that the ones missing left an emptiness as we gathered around the memorial table to remember and watch the familiar faces of friends who left us much too early.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zb8GdlWzf_GCOZX3BMJ4KxUv8qiWeJYMMfiF49j0xrujBkg5pe2YUnHfA4704QVslfyktTIQ8ixMpBxlfmd5NSfVR1dpb-jcrPjELh4M3n5x9UndBYhmqTpYZe5KEskiW-m2RnUfbL8/s1600/Hillsboro+High+Reunion8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zb8GdlWzf_GCOZX3BMJ4KxUv8qiWeJYMMfiF49j0xrujBkg5pe2YUnHfA4704QVslfyktTIQ8ixMpBxlfmd5NSfVR1dpb-jcrPjELh4M3n5x9UndBYhmqTpYZe5KEskiW-m2RnUfbL8/s200/Hillsboro+High+Reunion8.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1p1Omt8u8Fc68Z6uTRKf4U4ELmKVXnga-MbRLzXYhNQFQGChv7-YerOzjYbvRHWcDYgCTt8M0h_VTmxHIcIAalZFwE9q2p6nPzCiX8BhvOracqY1g_2CyBEjII69etxgQn5gikm-YwI/s1600/Hillsboro+High+Reunion16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1p1Omt8u8Fc68Z6uTRKf4U4ELmKVXnga-MbRLzXYhNQFQGChv7-YerOzjYbvRHWcDYgCTt8M0h_VTmxHIcIAalZFwE9q2p6nPzCiX8BhvOracqY1g_2CyBEjII69etxgQn5gikm-YwI/s200/Hillsboro+High+Reunion16.JPG" width="200" /></a>As with any family reunion, it would not be complete without the food and food was abundant!!! <br />
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Long ago teachers and the beloved principal came together to make the family reunion complete!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfkbrBsKH18cT1ubz18A_4DSVFx3stDkNYTn9atMF69RMtc6jDM78pPYED6erBYLWqkvPT74cgDKpaW8FORlubtxuxIp2p-sE5dCyfwB9mKjO30UKmB8sRBf9y9AqdlkGw6tgFNJNnaQ/s1600/383786_176211835801078_100002367886695_369459_171781349_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfkbrBsKH18cT1ubz18A_4DSVFx3stDkNYTn9atMF69RMtc6jDM78pPYED6erBYLWqkvPT74cgDKpaW8FORlubtxuxIp2p-sE5dCyfwB9mKjO30UKmB8sRBf9y9AqdlkGw6tgFNJNnaQ/s320/383786_176211835801078_100002367886695_369459_171781349_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This day will live forever in our memories, friendships that were reconnected will flourish for years to come. This day was a long time coming, something we were holding our breath for, something we were hungry for ....... to bring us back to where we were one family.......yes it was *Epic!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7NFyny-6OQY9sNPorUoxgupXHoHUmcT8z3hnMlnV9UI6YnwULeoy7vSO5i6DOOMXl09a_Ku9SA8ShQfJreYgkpMKl5Ui7gqBdpgMpfWBAIs6kxc4rh3nW4g5SIcNHLKyi7SJ53JPOI0/s1600/Hillsboro+High+Reunion20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7NFyny-6OQY9sNPorUoxgupXHoHUmcT8z3hnMlnV9UI6YnwULeoy7vSO5i6DOOMXl09a_Ku9SA8ShQfJreYgkpMKl5Ui7gqBdpgMpfWBAIs6kxc4rh3nW4g5SIcNHLKyi7SJ53JPOI0/s320/Hillsboro+High+Reunion20.JPG" width="320" />*</a></div>*Thank you Donna Goodgine Schklar for the perfect word to describe our day.<br />
Thank you Debbie Raines Flowers for starting the ball rolling!!!!Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-80188159709211446562011-11-05T15:09:00.004-05:002020-09-25T15:54:10.384-05:00Turning the PageHow did it get to be November? Weren't we just welcoming in 2011 a few weeks ago? "Time waits for no man"; I read that somewhere and finally, I know what it means......<br />
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Today, the first Saturday of November 2011, has been a breathtaking day! One of those "Slow, Sigh Saturday's" that I dream about and only catch once in a while. This week has been one of those "stop the world and let me off" weeks, but if I can have a day like today waiting at the end of every week.....then bring it on! The reward is worth it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg2KXQJeTPeFaRFL6WdXQ0Cr5J1PMwAvGpMBU-XkiFRtVR0cISjwYALNZNMwaIDk887FhySefQmHU5arrGkQyQUaISN49wNrKKpoXg4hci4PMILwoVfaoP6BIkB1GI_F9Yz9OsQtuicw/s1600/farm+scenes5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfg2KXQJeTPeFaRFL6WdXQ0Cr5J1PMwAvGpMBU-XkiFRtVR0cISjwYALNZNMwaIDk887FhySefQmHU5arrGkQyQUaISN49wNrKKpoXg4hci4PMILwoVfaoP6BIkB1GI_F9Yz9OsQtuicw/s320/farm+scenes5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As we approach the end of yet another year and I think back over the last 10 months, once again I count my blessings.....the blessings of a year of good health for me and my family, the news of an addition to our family, a precious grandson coming from the other side of the world, the birth of a beautiful grandson right here at home, a grand son starting school for the first time, the joining of the military ranks of yet another grandson, five beautiful granddaughters all as teenagers, the high school graduation of a son and a grand daughter and watching them both go on to college, experiencing the empty nest for the first time in almost 40 years of raising children and having a first time ever High School Reunion in almost as many years ......<br />
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What will the next year bring? I will start with an earlier posting in September 2010 titled "Down On the Farm".........<br />
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Early in 2004, we got restless to make a change in our lives.... as the kids grew, so did the need to find out what else was out there. Our daughter was graduating and our son was getting ready for middle school and work was becoming more stressful for me, so I knew the time had come.......<br />
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At the time of that posting in 2010, I went on to say, "Our daughter has married, our son is getting ready to graduate in the spring and that wander dust is starting to swirl......where will it take us? Only as we turn the page in our book of life will we find what God has in store for us..."<br />
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A year has come and gone, the pages have turned and a new chapter is being written.......<br />
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Fall 2011, My husband is preparing to return to Military Service, this time as a civilian in the faraway land of Kyrgyzstan. <br />
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What does this mean for me? An empty nest? An empty house? Well, that wander dust has not settled yet......... <br />
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Jeremiah 29:11 "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."<br />
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Update 4 months later: My husband's contract fell through..... was not in God's plan.....instead, He needed him to stay home and help our son get ready for Military Service.........</i></b>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-48720171869606337402011-10-16T21:06:00.000-05:002011-10-16T21:38:18.272-05:00Autumn Holiday in Paris (Landing)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXczUC3SfLbWonzemxsKg1xWtI6WUlbmogJosLT8d8Xkvbdxdz_dy03v2x0VV4A3GXcOBlR7VeMfxYbOmnLLlNvnp6otXSHsxf_78EV5Z-Lc8qj9D0PYx-8DpSi2UcwEeZ4PKLv3VB_s/s1600/Fall+Retreat+201121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXczUC3SfLbWonzemxsKg1xWtI6WUlbmogJosLT8d8Xkvbdxdz_dy03v2x0VV4A3GXcOBlR7VeMfxYbOmnLLlNvnp6otXSHsxf_78EV5Z-Lc8qj9D0PYx-8DpSi2UcwEeZ4PKLv3VB_s/s320/Fall+Retreat+201121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It was that time of year again; the leaves were turning brilliant colors of yellow, orange and red, the sky a breathtaking blue, and the ladies of the Branches Sunday School Class were hearing the gentle call of the Savior to come away and rest.<br />
It was the 3rd annual Ladies Retreat at Paris Landing, where eight sisters came together to share a weekend filled with fun, fellowship, sharing in God's peace....... leaving behind the stress and tension of work and everyday responsibilities. As we arrived late in the afternoon, the sun glistening on the lake promised a glorious time as we unpacked our goodies for the evening meal of delicious homemade soup and sandwiches. A variety of delicacies was shared as we talked and laughed our way through an informal and relaxing dinner.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLplqMiLaPS-ErBz8j-VI2JNYU92-QjsOQ9APFJ2g6HV10xC6J_frycHZ_xQVItlSRPmMX_3QMMwwya5ImfwjP1qOd5pBenIFpS61PrTOO4MLg1TDhCD1Zvu8h-9LkgG1clw1mMbPR-WM/s1600/Fall+Retreat+201129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLplqMiLaPS-ErBz8j-VI2JNYU92-QjsOQ9APFJ2g6HV10xC6J_frycHZ_xQVItlSRPmMX_3QMMwwya5ImfwjP1qOd5pBenIFpS61PrTOO4MLg1TDhCD1Zvu8h-9LkgG1clw1mMbPR-WM/s320/Fall+Retreat+201129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After dinner, the traditional game time began and so did the fun. This is always a time when the "sisters" take on the role of sibling rivals......sides are chosen and the competition begins! This year was no less competitive and the howls and sidesplitting laughter as these delicate ladies turned vicious in an updated version of Charades. We will never sing Happy Birthday again without remembering that night......and the smile or chuckle that escapes will leave people wondering!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJi00rciV1vsXW6sLHbGvToQvo527kYmzcQobYlx9Iy1n7OuKou835lI4pBLWpLHDageWCqD-eGjO6yH8mX1JXjfewRO8ZMNk9nzVt37_t3KIeH-HgWDgwf0kAMTO7FxoVgXCd9hThBQ/s1600/Fall+Retreat+20111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJi00rciV1vsXW6sLHbGvToQvo527kYmzcQobYlx9Iy1n7OuKou835lI4pBLWpLHDageWCqD-eGjO6yH8mX1JXjfewRO8ZMNk9nzVt37_t3KIeH-HgWDgwf0kAMTO7FxoVgXCd9hThBQ/s320/Fall+Retreat+20111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
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Finally getting to bed around 1:00am, we awake to the most amazing day the Lord has prepared for us. After a wonderful breakfast of blueberry pancakes and fresh fruit, the walk begins. Drinking in the beauty of our surroundings, we walk though the park, enjoying the gentle breeze off the soft blue ripples of the lake. We were exhausted by the time we arrived back at the chalet, ready for a light lunch and rest before shopping.....as usual, we shopped for shoes and made a stop at the little Christian Book Store....our two favorite places on our retreat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp90Y_3wK0Qt8prHjLDzmROrD_xGIkMiPNxX5ahHkkPXv82FH1RR3ujg6rCHZsBwIIcPlKnyS64PCQ1UGR2RdFKi9Up7jGGMBZuTx_GitWS6s8oCCvAZ5tFrc3lYFfZMG1iQ6SOrybsc/s1600/Fall+Retreat+20116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp90Y_3wK0Qt8prHjLDzmROrD_xGIkMiPNxX5ahHkkPXv82FH1RR3ujg6rCHZsBwIIcPlKnyS64PCQ1UGR2RdFKi9Up7jGGMBZuTx_GitWS6s8oCCvAZ5tFrc3lYFfZMG1iQ6SOrybsc/s320/Fall+Retreat+20116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Dinner on Saturday evening was at the Paris Landing Inn, and what a treat! Good food, Good company and a beautiful view of the lake.....God is so good to us! <br />
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Sharing time on Saturday night began with a reading of a short story novel written by one of our sweet sisters. As we listened intently though tears and smiles, our hearts strings were pulled and our emotions were challenged. From the reading to roasting marshmellows around the campfire, the question was raised, " what do you want to do when you grow up"? This question brought to mind an array of dreams yet to fulfill and thoughts of what God might have in store for each of us filled the night air. From retiring to the mountains to building a church in Kenya to publishing a best seller to a simple dream of a job closer to home......each of us know that God is not finished with us yet. As I continue to ponder this question, I know that there is more for me to do, more to make a difference in the lives of others and more to bring Glory to God!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWFWJ3EEsgf4O_lovZTyMlz-UFB3O47ynC_ejf36S8csm98vh-GA4LMOQFm3TWZ157kSDrhxyQnufvRWD60KwuoRxdsew_JSL3dWHBqTsgPdAD6m13r1p3ZwNGEAOIYMMlVR3FBnQnDI/s1600/Fall+Retreat+20113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWFWJ3EEsgf4O_lovZTyMlz-UFB3O47ynC_ejf36S8csm98vh-GA4LMOQFm3TWZ157kSDrhxyQnufvRWD60KwuoRxdsew_JSL3dWHBqTsgPdAD6m13r1p3ZwNGEAOIYMMlVR3FBnQnDI/s320/Fall+Retreat+20113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sunday morning devotion on the deck in the mist of the rising sun......what a way to start the day and such a beautiful way to end our weekend. Glorifying the Lord surrounded by His handiwork will be enough to carry us until we meet here again next year.Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-56665489144013174432011-09-17T07:18:00.000-05:002011-09-17T07:18:21.732-05:00College and Beyond<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKzTkhq9dkALBRXDStP6vsF_oNnHSRU38PUCI0NG0j-0kAUjK6DZzLoJS2RBs5WTAJsNdXUB1syaZl5VstRVD9YIBuvkdaSJylubtvQynvbGPhKlHRB_0zTELz9lwFKK3tSytPKiuJsU/s1600/8-15-2008+8%253B16%253B57+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKzTkhq9dkALBRXDStP6vsF_oNnHSRU38PUCI0NG0j-0kAUjK6DZzLoJS2RBs5WTAJsNdXUB1syaZl5VstRVD9YIBuvkdaSJylubtvQynvbGPhKlHRB_0zTELz9lwFKK3tSytPKiuJsU/s320/8-15-2008+8%253B16%253B57+PM.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> To my son,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">As you begin a new phase of your life, remember to always trust in God to guide you, always ask Him for directions and listen to your heart where He whispers His love and answers to your prayers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Live with intention</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Walk to the edge.<br />
Listen hard. Laugh. Play with abandon.<br />
Practice wellness. continue to learn.<br />
Choose with no regret.<br />
Appreciate your friends.<br />
Lead or follow a leader.<br />
Do what you lo</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>ve.<br />
Live as if this is all there is.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">*Mary Anne Radmacher</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-31082021914867272402011-09-10T09:34:00.001-05:002012-04-17T19:05:20.098-05:00My Plate Runneth OverHave you ever had your plate so full you couldn't eat it all?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeu4KJYnekOdS1ltYfljwI7rGSvrgmniGh-9QlcuAeoALFLkYrI8KysVnCGHJsJtJymmVa5oFIoZJe9ecYHzq2rt6XMLr8ivDXw9GWSqnb7hFiKpL-jUh281uNNbDSGCJoy0EQ9bsnto/s1600/over+the+mountain40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeu4KJYnekOdS1ltYfljwI7rGSvrgmniGh-9QlcuAeoALFLkYrI8KysVnCGHJsJtJymmVa5oFIoZJe9ecYHzq2rt6XMLr8ivDXw9GWSqnb7hFiKpL-jUh281uNNbDSGCJoy0EQ9bsnto/s320/over+the+mountain40.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Have you ever had your "to do" plate so full you couldn't do it all?<br />
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Well, I have had both and neither situation is comfortable. A choice has to be made in what to eat and what to leave behind or in the latter case, do what is most important at the time.<br />
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August and a few months forward is always the busiest time for me; the school doors open and so do the gates of responsibilities, adjustments to change, working endless hours on very little sleep begin and "we are off". My focus can no longer encompass the many tasks, projects, activities and desires of my heart on my 'to do' list. <br />
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As women, we always think we can do it all. Wonder Women, Multi-tasker, Mega Mom.......but at some point, it catches up with you. I don't care who you are or how much you think you have it all together, when you try to juggle too many things at one time, you lose momentum, your energy level crashes and you can not give any one thing your "all". You have to decide what is most important at the time, what is most beneficial to you and your family and give it your focus. Does that mean you give up the rest? Absolutely not!<br />
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My dreams and goals are clear and steadfast, but for me, they have to be achieved one at a time. God has a plan for us all and the things He has planned for us happen in his time, not ours. When we try to rush ahead and take power into our own hands, we disrupt God's timeline. God wants us to trust Him with our dreams and desires of our heart and He also wants us to be thankful for the gifts He puts in our lives, like a good husband, healthy children, loving parents, good friends and a great job! He also wants us to use the talents He has given us to influence the people around us.....for me, I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 people I can influence or touch in some way on any given day while on my JOB. If I am not focused, many lives and livelihoods can be affected negatively.<br />
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I am not the kind of person who wants it all and wants it now. I want the simple things, the things that let me slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life, watching the sunrise on a crisp fall Saturday morning, seeing the wide toothless smile of my precious grandchild, watching my son experience college life and providing him the means to do it, sharing a cup of coffee with a fellow worker at the end of a long day and listening to the challenges they face, watching people become interested in taking their talents to the next level and helping them do just that in the workplace, coming home after a long hard day and being able to "just be". <br />
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My dreams and goals are clear and steadfast and based on faith....faith that God has a plan and through His plan my dreams and goals are possible. I know I do not have the power nor the lasting strength to make my dreams come true or to achieve my goals, the power comes from Him."There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends".<br />
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My dreams and goals are clear and steadfast....they are not about me...... they are about how I can serve others with my God-given talents "just where I am" at this time in my life. <br />
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My dreams and goals are clear and steadfast but, I have to put them in proper priority. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrBqGQlppQrSY4m13vBOL8GS7YLtZgoXGRGTE8rSh0jD3Dqib1mSoKh0tOZ6zJTSGU-IjxZBowRwbECE1_1pkMNlPR2xXET5aoZJO8waHAqEgjgdP8xuIZGP9RRmBAsUy-tzKUOclZqQ/s1600/P4270170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrBqGQlppQrSY4m13vBOL8GS7YLtZgoXGRGTE8rSh0jD3Dqib1mSoKh0tOZ6zJTSGU-IjxZBowRwbECE1_1pkMNlPR2xXET5aoZJO8waHAqEgjgdP8xuIZGP9RRmBAsUy-tzKUOclZqQ/s400/P4270170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Psalm 121:1-3; I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help comes from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth. He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber.Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-23296040379918224992011-09-07T20:59:00.002-05:002012-04-15T19:06:40.914-05:00Going Home Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAO3RBhMOjkFxCPZd5f8jzUua7nFRMzk9m3V57SVHramEpLmjeKUUjtDI_3y1XCRVkjTk2nLLJ49lD5JPsdFMpAIb9Pu5oFFRuKsktl62zNfCqcgM91xg-UcHuFTpdGL0N5zQqeSpjn_Y/s1600/9-4-2011+4%253B50%253B14+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAO3RBhMOjkFxCPZd5f8jzUua7nFRMzk9m3V57SVHramEpLmjeKUUjtDI_3y1XCRVkjTk2nLLJ49lD5JPsdFMpAIb9Pu5oFFRuKsktl62zNfCqcgM91xg-UcHuFTpdGL0N5zQqeSpjn_Y/s320/9-4-2011+4%253B50%253B14+PM.jpg" width="224" /></a>"We grow up planning how we are going to leave home and then spend the rest of our lives trying to get back".<br />
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This is a quote from a former high school class mate, posted on our facebook site where after almost 40 years, reconnection is finally being made. After graduation from high school, my friends, some who had been class mates since 1st grade, and I all went our separate ways to find what life had in store. Now seeing and hearing about what they have done with their lives, where life has taken them and sadly how life has been taken from so many, this little sentence has spoken volumes.<br />
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As I read the comments and remarks of my long ago friends, it seems like we have been transported back to that little country high school where we had no idea what life was like beyond it's walls, we just knew we could not wait to go out and grab on to whatever was out there and let it take us to new places and new adventures. It seems that no matter how far away the tides of time have shifted us and the adventures we have experienced, the common thread I see running though the conversations, the pictures and mementos shared....we are all excited to be back "home''.<br />
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Hillsboro High was a small K-12 school in a rural community of Western Williamson County Tennessee. The kids attending this unique and last of it's kind educational institution were raised on country sunshine and a love for friends and family. In my mind's eye, we are still the same as we were in the early to middle 1970's, still sharing laughter at each others antics and jokes, teasing each other like brothers and sisters, sharing happiness for each others accomplishments and shedding tears for the lose of those who were taken from us way too early.<br />
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As we get re-acquainted and plan our get together, it seems this will be more than a class or school reunion.......a home coming is what families do...welcome home Hillsboro High School Family and thank you Debbie Sue for bringing the family back together.<br />
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</a></div>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-22919855684862148072011-08-20T21:54:00.001-05:002012-04-14T17:42:59.443-05:00If I Had My Children to Raise Over Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqWcfJcsgOBafPW6TmIAgxgTCOUFHzQ5yNQhuFgssPltUIJ_c3gYXHEMjCBImCNTPVRP_XAZKXnMxCLQvsNv9u1-VAvDaeP7UiGnGWxFQUr4bmBN3Fe4vDh05tDhw0o9DZ3gbOHPjIR4/s1600/6-4-2011+6%253B32%253B18+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqWcfJcsgOBafPW6TmIAgxgTCOUFHzQ5yNQhuFgssPltUIJ_c3gYXHEMjCBImCNTPVRP_XAZKXnMxCLQvsNv9u1-VAvDaeP7UiGnGWxFQUr4bmBN3Fe4vDh05tDhw0o9DZ3gbOHPjIR4/s320/6-4-2011+6%253B32%253B18+PM.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>Alex will start college this week. Where has the time gone? It seems like we just celebrated his 4th birthday. Now as he starts a new phase in his life, mom and dad will mark another milestone in theirs.....children born, children loved, children guided , children raised to be adults, children ready to make their way in life.....God's purpose for parents. <br />
As I pondered the fast approaching empty nest, I found this little poem that pulled at my heart strings.<br />
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If I had my children to raise all over again<br />
I'd finger paint more and point the finger less<br />
I'd do less correcting and more connecting<br />
I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes<br />
I would care to know less and know to care more<br />
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites<br />
I'd stop playing serious and seriously play<br />
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars<br />
I'd do more hugging and less tugging<br />
I would be firm less and affirm much more<br />
I'd build self-esteem first and the house later<br />
I'd teach less about the love of power and more about the power of love<br />
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*Diane Loomans, from Full Esteem Ahead<br />
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I thank God for a wonderful son who has grown into a great young man. We are so proud of him as he goes forward into a new world. We are proud of all our wonderful children and their beautiful families.<br />
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The prize God has waiting for parents at this time in their lives when they face the empty nest.....<br />
Grandchildren!Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-29983459182998800832011-08-13T09:36:00.002-05:002015-04-26T16:26:58.580-05:00God Sings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)<br />
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Imagine hearing God sing....does it sound like the mighty roar of thunder or is it like a soft gentle whisper?<br />
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During my quiet time this morning, imagine that, I had some quiet time today! It seems like it has been forever since I had time to sit, enjoy the peace and tranquilly of no activity, no place to be, no clock staring at me, no one pulling me in different directions, no one demanding my attention...... and time to study God's word.<br />
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My life once again has gotten off track and I feel like I am being propelled though time at an accelerated speed, but today, on this beautiful Saturday morning, I find myself sitting on my porch, the sun peeking out through the full foliage of the summer trees, the house is quiet and I have nothing on my agenda today, so here I am God...fill me with your comfort, your wisdom and your love.<br />
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As I flipped through my study Bible, reviewing some notes and passages, I came across a study section in Zephaniah that tells me God will sing to me to quiet me when I am feeling overwhelmed, rejected, unworthy and fearful. It is not His power or His majesty that quiets me, it is His unfailing love (Psm.36:7-8; Isa.54:10). God's singing is powerful and strong, yet unimaginably beautiful, pure and sweet, but why would he sing over me?<br />
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Because He delights in me and I make His heart sing with joy! Wow....what a concept! But after all, He is our Father and as a parent, don't we do the same with our children? When our children face obstacles and their lives get turned upside down, don't we long to comfort them with soft words, warm hugs and sometimes a sweet song to quiet their fears. When our children overcome obstacles and joy is restored in their hearts, our very own hearts sing with joy. It just makes sense that God would feel the same way about His children.<br />
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Oh Lord, when I am overwhelmed and life swallows me up, keeping me from seeing the plans you have for me, please let me remember that You are there to sing a sweet song to calm and quiet me. Let my frustrated spirit be transformed, for I know my transformation brings you glory. Let me be an example of your grace, mercy, love and power. Let me take that step of faith, to grow and mature and to know that as my Father, your heart is bursting with pride and joy.Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-5186688108264166622011-05-03T19:51:00.022-05:002012-07-07T12:07:27.614-05:00Happy Mother's Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9D0uE_uoCQNI2VFJcoBEIfuI63doajSXFcFXRSr6mPateQV5V437uDpQHddZmTzAj8Yt0yrXgfImTCEiR0t-4-3hJBLDgde6HdigY4iBkcX15QkYGviMt1IMLtjg3CcG_DoEP9ALRZU/s1600/Kathy+%2540+17.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602663473649021634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9D0uE_uoCQNI2VFJcoBEIfuI63doajSXFcFXRSr6mPateQV5V437uDpQHddZmTzAj8Yt0yrXgfImTCEiR0t-4-3hJBLDgde6HdigY4iBkcX15QkYGviMt1IMLtjg3CcG_DoEP9ALRZU/s320/Kathy+%2540+17.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 278px;" /></a><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="line-height: 135%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO3EEqtAK-aoAjNiFUlX4SQYVC551vDN7HuGfinVDeXu0WpN_Ij9BIv2OM7nADTMOEMeEawttTH21WqUkopPsFW_DrwfMCrRbpjxj0R64OBWkabFm4jXfXpSifS6jlpAzowF1nLD6mrw/s1600/Kathy+%2540+17.jpg"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 135%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;">The Girl<br />
I Used To Be</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">by Rowena K. Lewis</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"></span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">S</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">he came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd she gazed at me with her earnest eye, and questioned reproachfully:</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">H</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">ave you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: #ff99ff; font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BmJUQxB12NQQiRUwnHRtPyyINcfMrC46ZoKVOl8bfVmnOv-MiA-xy-GnBKRW7sRY6VfOtFPVmWzO3teiwtBMcXb6ZJrUaFMC04bmW9uQjweJhoU-9J1jCI-3GFCUeAd-cWkz0anqMl4/s1600/7-20-2008+7%253B17%253B14+PM.jpg"><br />
</a></span></span></span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">T</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">he great career, the splendid fame, all the wonderful things to do?</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">W</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">here is the mansion of stately height, with all of its gardens rare?</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">T</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">he silken robes that I dreamed for you, and the jewels in your hair?</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd as she spoke, I was very sad, for I wanted her pleased with me.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">T</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">his slender girl from the shadowy past, the girl that I used to be.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">S</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">o gently rising, I took her hand, and guided her up the stair</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">W</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">here peacefully sleeping, my babies lay, innocent, sweet, and fair.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me;</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">T</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">hat silken robe is my motherhood, of costly simplicity.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">I</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">s serving each day in these sheltered walls, for the dear ones who come and go.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd I saw that the woman that I am now, pleased the girl that I used to be.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: ";">Copyright 1997 Rowena K. Lewis. Used with permission.</span></i></span><br />
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As a young girl, I was a dreamer. My dreams were big, always taking me to far away places where life would be adventurous, exciting and romantic. Books were my best friend so much so that "bookworm" would be a good descriptive word for me during my adolescence and teen years. I was addicted to romantic movies set in far away places, I even kept a journal of the movies I watched and the ones I could watch again and again.<br />
I was totally mesmerized by Wurthering Heights........I can't remember which came first, reading the book or watching the movie, I just know Heathcliff and Cathy running through the Heather on the Moors of Wuthering Heights and sharing a love so deep that death could not keep them apart still lives in my heart the same today as it did so long ago.<br />
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My silken robe of Motherhood came to me in the form of a rambunctious 4 year old as I entered married life and 2 1/2 years later my bouncing baby boy joined his almost 7 year old brother.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YlGiClqZ1oZMt_FROXrAfwOvj2TN2bQHoTNS-jG8l3sxacvN42TYQnbh3qZk4yjoMY0HIT0wy5poQmtvDkH8459MUcFVqougKmg53dP__amTwkBR98kJourIcVZoHNYxNSvRM_-2JnE/s1600/8-15-2008+8%253B09%253B32+PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603413154193266674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YlGiClqZ1oZMt_FROXrAfwOvj2TN2bQHoTNS-jG8l3sxacvN42TYQnbh3qZk4yjoMY0HIT0wy5poQmtvDkH8459MUcFVqougKmg53dP__amTwkBR98kJourIcVZoHNYxNSvRM_-2JnE/s200/8-15-2008+8%253B09%253B32+PM.jpg" style="float: right; height: 328px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 216px;" width="131" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cA197qHnC4TPK7JVYm7nmrM380SiFpA7QodAgbfp_qJ7_qIu4JydxOSVNqH_-D9EJw5tW_4uRG-376WYWQ-jw5mY6p0oeqgLXYLAxjTuIIkKIASYL76WYG78iQoaXNyNZSMOZdQX7m0/s1600/7-20-2008+7%253B17%253B14+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603414133657606098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cA197qHnC4TPK7JVYm7nmrM380SiFpA7QodAgbfp_qJ7_qIu4JydxOSVNqH_-D9EJw5tW_4uRG-376WYWQ-jw5mY6p0oeqgLXYLAxjTuIIkKIASYL76WYG78iQoaXNyNZSMOZdQX7m0/s200/7-20-2008+7%253B17%253B14+PM.jpg" style="height: 306px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 227px;" width="148" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Life with the boys....birthdays, bicycles, go-carts, little toy trucks, 1st days of school, Christmas's, scraped knees, scolding and discipline, sick days for Dr's appointments; Life with the boys revolved around mom's job that came about just after my baby boy turned 1 yr old.<span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">..........</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 100%;">I</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> took a little job that fit around my son's school schedule, I worked when he was in school and I was home when he was home.....my baby boy was safe in the care of my sweet mother or my loving sister while I was away at the workplace........What started as a job to bring home a little extra money gradually got bigger and the need for the extra money became more and more necessary. As my boys grew and the responsibilities of supporting our family grew heavier on my side of the scale, my days off, Christmas Break and Summer Vacation, became a time for a temporary job. Working part time in Tea Room type eateries offered a break from the regular routine of serving the nutritional needs of school children.</span><br style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;" /> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now I am not complaining, I found that I loved to work and I worked at something I loved. I found that each day was an adventure, making new friends, inte</span>racting with co-workers, sharing their lives, sharing ideas and most of all, learning about people and realizing I could be a positive influence in their lives with the service my job provided.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"> <br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR-Jt4lD6oOYnif7k2e6ZcsZ-0lcFw1qxbX4-hq3cSHdEpJFF5DSbJSAH3GACWyNiRRGbcg6MuG0QJon-eyEO8oS3nkPP2Y4obGJ2H4jvfn4PjxYcapNKlYspAreYGd1CgJ_MlMoR4W8/s1600/7-19-2008+6%253B48%253B10+PM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603788372211962386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR-Jt4lD6oOYnif7k2e6ZcsZ-0lcFw1qxbX4-hq3cSHdEpJFF5DSbJSAH3GACWyNiRRGbcg6MuG0QJon-eyEO8oS3nkPP2Y4obGJ2H4jvfn4PjxYcapNKlYspAreYGd1CgJ_MlMoR4W8/s320/7-19-2008+6%253B48%253B10+PM.jpg" style="float: left; height: 291px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 222px;" width="244" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">Many years have passed, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">life brought with it a beautiful baby girl who has worked </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">along side her mother on many occasions and has learned the</span> <span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">value of good work ethics. She is a fountain of enthusiasm in everything she pursues and loves with her whole heart. She has grown into a wonderful mother of 2 precious little boys.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ3Gw1sMDkdDAws0BJE0pIL91l8UU7oMblcrWZlc5Aob7GC-FNesggC7Viu56e4xuu_r-iXGVbDYdtcd-l9yYuxDANaCS0nSvwwvYjZ1bmwwkI7HZ6Q5xE88mW5pJdTQXFbPu3hCIpbk/s1600/7-19-2008+6%253B45%253B17+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604058997780624530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ3Gw1sMDkdDAws0BJE0pIL91l8UU7oMblcrWZlc5Aob7GC-FNesggC7Viu56e4xuu_r-iXGVbDYdtcd-l9yYuxDANaCS0nSvwwvYjZ1bmwwkI7HZ6Q5xE88mW5pJdTQXFbPu3hCIpbk/s200/7-19-2008+6%253B45%253B17+PM.jpg" style="height: 266px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 216px;" width="162" /></a></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"></span><br />
<div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"> </span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;">Life has a way of taking you to new horizons as you come out of difficult and trying times........<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">God blessed my life with </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">another </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">son who has recently gotten his first job, will be graduating high school and starting college in the fall.</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">I have also been blessed with wonderful step-children and beautiful grandchildren.........they are truly jewels in my hair and my heart swells with hope for their futures filled with dreams that will take them to faraway places..........</span></div><div class="pout" style="line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">My boys have grown into wonderful men who seem to find work when work is hard to find.Their work ethics to provide for their own "precious gems" go beyond whatever dreams they may have had as young boys.</span></div><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">H</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">ave you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?</span></span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BmJUQxB12NQQiRUwnHRtPyyINcfMrC46ZoKVOl8bfVmnOv-MiA-xy-GnBKRW7sRY6VfOtFPVmWzO3teiwtBMcXb6ZJrUaFMC04bmW9uQjweJhoU-9J1jCI-3GFCUeAd-cWkz0anqMl4/s1600/7-20-2008+7%253B17%253B14+PM.jpg"></a></span></span></span><br />
<div class="pout" style="color: #3333ff; line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">T</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">he great career, the splendid fame, all the wonderful things to do?</span></span></div><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Did my choice to take a little job that turned into a 35 year career take me off course from the dreams of the girl I used to be? Were my hopes left behind as I rushed ahead with life and the needs of my children? Was I selfish in spending my days serving other children instead of waiting for the school bus to bring my children home in the afternoon?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> ......My life is exactly what God intended for me. My "great career" has taken me to faraway places, has been the source of exciting adventures, has allowed me to see into the lives of people I would never have met otherwise and has introduced many great friends into my life It has allowed me to stretch my imagination, use my talents and show my children hard work does not go unrewarded. What it has also given me is a chance to influence the lives of others including my own children.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">A</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">nd my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know</span></div><div class="pout" style="color: #3333ff; line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="font-family: "; line-height: 135%;">I</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;">s serving each day in these sheltered walls, for the dear ones who come and go.</span></div><div class="pout" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #3333ff; line-height: 135%;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: #333333;">"She watches over the affairs of the household and does not eat the bread of idleness. her children call her blessed and her husband also and he praises her. Many women do noble things but you surpass them all". Proverbs 31: 27-29</span></span></div><div class="pout" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: #3333ff; line-height: 135%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%; line-height: 135%;"><span style="color: #333333;">Happy Mother's Day to my children, as I put on my silken robe of motherhood and reflect on the gems in my life.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "; font-size: 9pt;"></span>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-44368658948664869312011-04-30T20:28:00.003-05:002014-01-22T14:40:04.588-06:00Believing and Finding Contentment<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfeTIbJBZbmMCMIn1uQ38uQi2QsliyACdG8IR8VBJ6mCsWL2sL_4Wt7ZXAazQBhCM6qY8qrLIGkUnyzRzTIO56m-bQwgwNoLasxW13RZ-EQmeQrnxH-2g5qbe1J6FhSJo_wAfJoKRHiE/s1600/Alabama+2009+111.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfeTIbJBZbmMCMIn1uQ38uQi2QsliyACdG8IR8VBJ6mCsWL2sL_4Wt7ZXAazQBhCM6qY8qrLIGkUnyzRzTIO56m-bQwgwNoLasxW13RZ-EQmeQrnxH-2g5qbe1J6FhSJo_wAfJoKRHiE/s320/Alabama+2009+111.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601564500765889154" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-family: lucida grande; font-size: large;">Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hebrews 11: 1 (NIV)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Faith requires a leap, a jump...everything is not neatly figured out. If I had all the answers, faith would not be required. As I struggle to find the answers, I search my heart and the scriptures, hoping for confirmation, but when I think it is within my reach, it slips just beyond my grasp.<br />
Change is always difficult, uncertainty, fear of the unknown...fear of what is out there once we let go and free fall into whatever comes next. All those years of helping others find their courage though times of change and here I am looking for change and can't seem to find that courage for myself. Recently I typed an email to a friend trying to express my feeling and thoughts of recent weather events....... </span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Rain, Rain, Go Away!!! All this water…..feels like we’ve been here before….like last year at this time. Such extreme weather, we even had an earthquake drill last Thursday…..they had a recording of an earthquake played through the phone system and when we heard it, we had to drop where we were and get under our desks and hold on until it ended….scary stuff. More and more I find reasons to want to escape the workplace madness and be home to take care of and keep my family safe.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">The day the tornado came though our little community, I was at work under a tornado warning there. I was watching the storm on television that was projected on a large screen. I could see the storm as it came over my house and could not reach my family on the phone. At the time I was watching it, my family was trying to find safety in my small office/hallway as trees were being tossed down and pulled up by the roots. Thank God they were safe and our house was not damaged, but we lost 8 trees, a tractor shed and several fences. Some of our neighbors we not as lucky with damaged roofs and sidings. The Fire House and Community Center across the street suffered the most damage with part of the buildings blown out. Of course, this was nothing compared to our southern friends last weekend……</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">In one of my favorite books, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World", I read that there are times in our life when God writes the end to a chapter in our lives and asks us to say good-by to something or someone who has been important to us. It can be a friend, a spouse, a parent and even a job. Endings in a sense are inevitable and sometimes we are reluctant to let go.....it is hard to let go of things we feel we have control over. The question is asked, " Do you ever find yourself clinging to the pencil, refusing to let God write on the pages of your life? We know that the Lord is infinitely kind and patient in his dealings with us. He will show us how to relinquish our rights for his best". The writer suggests if we struggle in relinquishing control, we should ask God to make us willing, to recognize we have an adversary and to let go one piece at a time.<br />
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<span style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I pray that God will make me willing to surrender control of the things that are holding me back from turning the pages to the new chapter He is writing for my life. "Sometimes we cling to control because we fear changes that we are not ready to handle, but God, in his kindness, takes us at a pace we can handle. If we simply obey what he asks of us at the moment, He will lead us to the next step when we are ready".<br />
Is my faith enough? God has written my life story, "His periods may not be my periods, His commas may not be my commas, His ways may not be my ways, but He knows the plans he has for me", my purpose at each stage in my life.....can I let go and have the faith, the trust, to let Him take me in the right direction?<br />
Lord help me to be willing to understand in my heart that "God's plan is released when I believe and obey".<br />
"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver</span><br />
</span>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-65168518598692525212011-04-17T13:28:00.003-05:002020-09-15T14:10:00.886-05:00Hurry Up, Wait and Fast ForwardHappy New Year and Have a Blessed Easter!!!!Where has the time gone? The last 3 1/2 months have come and gone without stopping to take a breath...or maybe it is just me who has not stopped to breath....<br />
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As I write this post I am sitting in my little backyard garden where the buttercups and tulips have already bloomed and faded and the gladiolas have yet to bud......we are halfway through April 2011 and for the first time since Christmas, I can sit and fully enjoy my surroundings of nature. How many days have passed that I didn't see the backyard and only saw the stepping stones from my front door to the car or the from the car to my front door?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-UWDIMP4mwovf5VlsxvUInBzJSY5HJpJAfhIhkeGyECzK9RK5kR6H6hAblnbJV3nMZqD-oJavbI4qL2GLGiW9it31P2Aj5n8UdxK-kM1PJZB4KRE5GaxrpZufGa5m5hmNlzcGYrIAl0/s1600/P2090018.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596627685800867058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-UWDIMP4mwovf5VlsxvUInBzJSY5HJpJAfhIhkeGyECzK9RK5kR6H6hAblnbJV3nMZqD-oJavbI4qL2GLGiW9it31P2Aj5n8UdxK-kM1PJZB4KRE5GaxrpZufGa5m5hmNlzcGYrIAl0/s320/P2090018.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 202px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 305px;" /></a><br />
As I think about the all the happenings since<br />
the start of the new year, 2011 brought with it<br />
more than usual snowfall in both January and February, closing schools and causing days of hibernation or staying overnight close to work. The stress and tension of getting back and forth on my 82 mile a day commute blurred the days that turned into weeks just waiting for the next winter storm...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyU2ova-defbq_StRzFPaBGgmjGyjunW1eFdWtheLsU-_JzOomjhE4By-fTja1br1hlFmO-5LfgREfAufkZSmomXbg1D_3KRgJRWGsjXR8bH0k-iB69KFPIxN0UXs9QRPBT2vS-mowKE/s1600/House+Back+Yard.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyU2ova-defbq_StRzFPaBGgmjGyjunW1eFdWtheLsU-_JzOomjhE4By-fTja1br1hlFmO-5LfgREfAufkZSmomXbg1D_3KRgJRWGsjXR8bH0k-iB69KFPIxN0UXs9QRPBT2vS-mowKE/s320/House+Back+Yard.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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As the threat of snow passed, early spring brought with it new life.....new life in the awaking of spring flowers, the singing of birds....and the first cry of our new grandson. <br />
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How easy it is to forget the blessings when the gray, menacing clouds of life's storms loom before us, consuming us with stress, tension and depths of despair, but when we stop and look for the blessings of our heavenly father, we don't have to look any farther than feeling the heartbeat of a newborn baby and hear the first cries of life to know, He is still with us, showering us with blessings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4YGa4XerGoMRMJ_CAcE1VvjJhUAaW5VH8oUor9LxBpmKd1YS9YEtu5py4EvpaQ9zH64GEO8W5x9J8oh_z1ZptVn4cTboNLKETfa18aWR7JqtcrUlsp2_64kMb5Tq3_8hrwBjNxEAujA/s1600/P3230026.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596638593898197874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4YGa4XerGoMRMJ_CAcE1VvjJhUAaW5VH8oUor9LxBpmKd1YS9YEtu5py4EvpaQ9zH64GEO8W5x9J8oh_z1ZptVn4cTboNLKETfa18aWR7JqtcrUlsp2_64kMb5Tq3_8hrwBjNxEAujA/s320/P3230026.JPG" style="float: right; height: 185px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 247px;" /></a>What a joy to see God's blessings in the birth of a newborn baby and see the happiness it brings to the mother holding it....it's a double blessing when the mother holding that newborn was once the newborn baby I held.......<br />
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This time of year also brings with it the longing to run barefoot in the new spring grass, to pick daffodil fuzz balls to make wishes on, to dig in the cool dirt and create life in new flowers, coloring our world with freshness......not to mention sitting idle for hours and listening to the song of the morning birds, watching the first rays of the sunrise, spending that quiet time with our maker who makes all these wonderful things for our enjoyment.......but life gets in the way and this time is only available for brief periods in between the busyness that consumes our hours.<br />
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Often, the desire for the simple joys of life over whelms me.....duty calls, the clock ticks faster and faster, hours turn into days and days run together......the simple joys of that quiet morning, the chorus of those morning birds, that beautiful sunrise, the blooms of those early spring flowers, the brilliant blue spring skies are gone.....each day is lived only once, what we miss, we will never get back.......we just look ahead to try to capture the next one.<br />
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During a recent devotional reading, the subject was "Burnout or Balance" by Chris Adams. It went like this; "Take a deep breath. Have you had a busy day? Are you caught up in the pressure to constantly go at full speed"? I looked around me and wondered when Chris Adams had somehow managed to secretly follow me around or look over my shoulder and know the fast track that takes me in and out of most of my days.....here she was asking me " do you cram more into any given time frame than one can possibly accomplish"? Well, I could be guilty of that sometimes, but how else can it all get done? Then she rattled off some of the symptoms experienced with stress and burn-out and I could identify with some of them......exhaustion? yes....loss of motivation? yes....anxiety? yes....discouragement, negative thinking, anger? sometimes......<br />
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Chris reminded me of what David said when he felt overwhelmed with life, "But I trust in You, Lord; I say, 'You are my God' My times are in your hands, deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me". Psalm 31:14. She assured me that the Lord never over-assigns us. We have enough time to do everything the Lord wants us to do. The key is to glorify Him as we prayerfully seek His purpose for our lives and pursue His plan for spending the time and the gifts He has given us.........<br />
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Mark 6:31 says "He said unto them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest"......My prayer is that I can follow Jesus' example and find that time to rest, that my days will become simple and slower paced so I will be able to bask in His delight......I will trust in Him to guide me, to be my GPS, for He knows the plans he has for me, the destination of my purpose......thank you Lord for this time to rest and renew my spirit.<br />
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"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me". Psalms 51;10Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-75168605012874057462011-03-20T16:50:00.006-05:002012-07-07T11:55:10.615-05:00Sometimes I Just Sits and Thinks and Sometimes I Just Sits<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2fRFpV_xF3fx6STfFqyRGUZR0_vlBAgm0MgHNeJYE6TXkva3NOsG4wckipKvrIClz8TQ1YGl91LarWzAUb9yu_iG8opaZl5n7x9utyH37QOftvu64ixny6KKbO88FC5AGvCR55OE1Gc/s1600/100_0470.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587026226634105538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2fRFpV_xF3fx6STfFqyRGUZR0_vlBAgm0MgHNeJYE6TXkva3NOsG4wckipKvrIClz8TQ1YGl91LarWzAUb9yu_iG8opaZl5n7x9utyH37QOftvu64ixny6KKbO88FC5AGvCR55OE1Gc/s320/100_0470.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 418px;" /> </a><br />
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</a><span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">We haven't had a Slow Sigh Saturday in a while..... commitments to be met, appointments to be kept and just pure exhaustion from a too full week have taken it's toll on getting away....not to mention the weather and all the snow of the past winter!!!</span></span></div><span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 130%;"><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;">This Saturday was no different. There was an appointment and grocery shopping to do....and yard work, laundry..... then all the energy was drained from us both. A nap really would have consumed us if we had given in, but instead we decided to just sit beside the pond for a bit. Of course, we couldn't just stroll</span></span><span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> to the pond and leisurely sit in a "movie prop" setting, which is what I dreamed of doing.....first we had to pull a bench and a couple of chairs out of winter storage and load them on the wagon that is pulled by the lawnmower and haul them to the pond. We also had to entice the horse to the barn stall with feed and close the barn gate in order to keep her from joining us and breathing down our necks, destroying any tranquility we were trying to enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Finally, we were able to sit and drink in the sunshine and feel the calmness of the water soothe away the stress and tension of the week before and relax....just the way we planned 7 Spring-times ago when we fell in love with this little piece of heaven on earth....our little Greenacres....in the sleepy little community of Hooterville....aka.....Tennessee City.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">As I sat, my thoughts traveled back to a carefree time when I had not learned the meaning of the word stress. This was not a word I heard often, if at all, growing up. If Mama and Daddy were ever stressed, we didn't know it and they didn't either. Life in the country was slow, the days were long and there was plenty of time to relax and dream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Suddenly, the memory of a poem or a quote I had read somewhere came back to me, "Sometimes I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." by Satchel Paige. I had this framed and on my wall as a teenager and I remember sketching a stool next to the words.......<br />
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As we sat for that brief few minutes, time stood still. We watched ducks bathing in the clear, calm water of a brimming pond, a gentle warm breeze stirring ever so lightly the new blades of spring grass......the quietness surrounding us made any other sounds seem far, far away.....<br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">How I look forward to the moments when we can just sit and let the things that rob us of our sleep and put signs of aging on our face fade into the background? Oh, how much I look forward to the time when I can "just sits" and if I chose...."just sits and thinks" about things that will bring me joy, that will put a smile on my face......and not waste my thoughts on things that exhaust me, drain me of my energy or God forbid, raise my blood pressure!!!!<br />
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<dl><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDH2G8rmbwRwbUlLiCCxczwbrtEjdRaSQS6l1_DuvhDgXiL53H2aq5oTXyWouh-2ImTfOIefqAA9MVVQ18VSqNxDvI-V0bEq1r8ZeKEHv_Gck15iEXaFLTQWyCgxLcVgs22y9BHnoQu4/s1600/100_2774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDH2G8rmbwRwbUlLiCCxczwbrtEjdRaSQS6l1_DuvhDgXiL53H2aq5oTXyWouh-2ImTfOIefqAA9MVVQ18VSqNxDvI-V0bEq1r8ZeKEHv_Gck15iEXaFLTQWyCgxLcVgs22y9BHnoQu4/s400/100_2774.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><dt> Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.</dt>
<dd class="author"><b><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Satchel_Paige/">Satchel Paige</a></b> <i>US baseball player (1906 - 1982)</i></dd></dl></blockquote><br />
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</span>Kathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-673798060041027918.post-85334331947323302282010-12-25T13:21:00.000-06:002013-11-23T17:37:01.185-06:00Christmas Morning Magic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzR6pylsbFl0Krv8WUpEMwHBjoyyDo0zIwZ2uLelEEMfpya0bo5X-uGYIMtMQKBZ7htb6Ft2EW9EoqXcys6kf7dyEULLKs6yQ4Dm3jdbSsJ2300s2-RoIn7PCLCLlzqyLCTce6Tx0A7w/s1600/100_1467.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554703748516415890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzR6pylsbFl0Krv8WUpEMwHBjoyyDo0zIwZ2uLelEEMfpya0bo5X-uGYIMtMQKBZ7htb6Ft2EW9EoqXcys6kf7dyEULLKs6yQ4Dm3jdbSsJ2300s2-RoIn7PCLCLlzqyLCTce6Tx0A7w/s320/100_1467.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a> Christmas 2010.....A White Christmas, a little snow to give us that "post card" Christmas feeling.<br />
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As the ghost of Christmas Past brings back the memories of when Christmas mornings were filled with the sounds of happy, excited children, noisy gift wrap being torn from unexpected surprises and Christmas list wishes were brought to life, I think about how different Christmas morning is when there are no longer small children, no longer the magical wide-eyed wonder, no longer the trying to stay awake until the last eye is closed so "Santa" can leave the visions of sugar-plums under the tree.........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X3EKzuMeRnJh01MCepdeeswOsfccTjOWrlKlJw_ovDBJ8Y4cjhTs4zNo42iYqYMngXms9dlMdmOEmgges9Zwit14jK90c5pR9_68haLuyidU7ZOjtuRJR5Fzkb26Vjgt-lYggmwPT14/s1600/7-20-2008+7%253B24%253B08+PM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554714120838397746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X3EKzuMeRnJh01MCepdeeswOsfccTjOWrlKlJw_ovDBJ8Y4cjhTs4zNo42iYqYMngXms9dlMdmOEmgges9Zwit14jK90c5pR9_68haLuyidU7ZOjtuRJR5Fzkb26Vjgt-lYggmwPT14/s320/7-20-2008+7%253B24%253B08+PM.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 220px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 312px;" /></a><br />
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In the early years with the boys, the lists were always made early in the fall, then an extra job was necessary in order to fill those lists. On Sunday after Thanksgiving the Christmas tree went up and the anticipation started up as well. Wants and wishes changed daily as commercials and ads flashed before their innocent eyes and convinced them this was the latest and best and they had to have it. Christmas Eve and bedtime was always hard...the excitement seemed to hold those little eyes open and those little hearts racing, making for a late night and then a very early morning.......then along came our little girl and wide-eyed wonderment took on a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNSD3TL09_jHHuOkBsuzN7jjX1u48kDdiEDqZ1WgTDJN0i-ITqAKyNYlFcC4vN7T9vPiWfl1mZP7E0kRXVEbC2B9pkFsQILvyKM3pun4NDLr6obVdgOZtk0Ket_I9G0Vkld_sq4dU85g/s1600/4-13-2008+7%253B06%253B29+PM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554724209292629106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNSD3TL09_jHHuOkBsuzN7jjX1u48kDdiEDqZ1WgTDJN0i-ITqAKyNYlFcC4vN7T9vPiWfl1mZP7E0kRXVEbC2B9pkFsQILvyKM3pun4NDLr6obVdgOZtk0Ket_I9G0Vkld_sq4dU85g/s320/4-13-2008+7%253B06%253B29+PM.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 328px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 274px;" /></a> whole new meaning! Christmas <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sYs7tRWLes33UsErmhNxh45RWn8QqJk1pvoDvgOuT3qGBjE4CZ9FPYP0i1eMyP12FL9nGvNNk38APxDC2s3NZeS3eq3GTHrNZPoFXEJtje3xZBLMFj77ZxXrS74LIm8sP6khHizF5o0/s1600/8-12-2008+7%253B24%253B46+PM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554732853994328738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sYs7tRWLes33UsErmhNxh45RWn8QqJk1pvoDvgOuT3qGBjE4CZ9FPYP0i1eMyP12FL9nGvNNk38APxDC2s3NZeS3eq3GTHrNZPoFXEJtje3xZBLMFj77ZxXrS74LIm8sP6khHizF5o0/s320/8-12-2008+7%253B24%253B46+PM.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 233px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>morning was centered around her squeals and giggles....watching her open her gifts filled the morning and everyone was exhausted by the time the long awaited nap-time came so we all could rest. As the boys grew older, their Christmas gifts soon consisted of guy gear and the latest electronics, but for a few more years, toys were back on the list and so was the magic of Christmas morning.<br />
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As the years passed and life brought on change, the boys grew up, the little girl was joined by a little brother and the magic of Christmas morning continued....<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />
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</span>This year we were blessed with a White Christmas and the only sounds on Christmas morning were the whispering snow flakes as they fell on a quiet, sleepy little home where a sleeping teenager had to be awakened to open his gifts of guy gear and the latest electronics. The gifts were opened without the squeals, without the giggles, without the fanfare of Christmas mornings past.....but somehow there was still a little magic in the air. I'm not sure if it was the falling snow or if I saw it in the smiles and heard it in the giggles and squeals of our grandchildren as they told us about their Christmas morning surprises.<br />
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Merry ChristmasKathy Jennette Griffithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07069194614709880360noreply@blogger.com1